Charles Mason (attorney)

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Charles Mason (1804 – February 27, 1882) was born in New York and became a patent attorney, taught engineering, and was the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Iowa.

However, today Mason is perhaps most remembered as the cadet who graduated first in the class of 1829 at the United States Military Academy at West Point, ahead of future Confederate Army commander Robert E. Lee. Mason and Lee were tied for the head of the class in Artillery, Tactics, and Conduct, but Mason bested Lee in all other subjects and graduated with an overall score of 1995.5 points, compared to Lee's 1966.5. Even though it is sometimes claimed that Lee's record of receiving no demerits during his four years at West Point was rare or even unique, the truth of the matter is that six cadets out of the 46 that graduated in 1829 shared a perfect conduct record.

[edit] References

• A brief biography
• Date of death
• Philip Van Doren Stern, Robert E. Lee: the Man and the Soldier, New York, 1963, p. 41.
• D. S. Freeman, R.E. Lee: A Biography, Vol. I, Ch. 4