Theodorus Bailey Myers Mason (May 8, 1848 – October 15, 1899) was the founder and first head of the United States Office of Naval Intelligence, with the post of Chief Intelligence Officer (prior to it being redesignated as Director of Naval Intelligence in 1911).
T. B. M. Mason
Birth name
Theodorus Bailey Myers Mason
Born
(1848-05-08)May 8, 1848
Died
October 15, 1899(1899-10-15) (aged 51) Saugerties, New York, US
A graduate of the United States Naval Academy in 1868, Mason was a distinguished linguist with an inquisitive mind, qualities that gave him respect and recognition in the Navy. After a stint in the Hydrographic Office, he travelled extensively in Europe and South America as a naval observer collecting ideas on naval intelligence systems; he knew what information was available and how to obtain it. He recognized that in order for the Navy to compete with its European counterparts, research in naval science and technology should be encouraged; as part of this objective, a unified intelligence agency was needed to gather information on foreign developments for proper dissemination and coordination with the different Bureaus. He made these recommendations upon the request of Secretary of the NavyWilliam H. Hunt.
Hunt read and agreed with most of Lt. Mason's recommendations, and consequently issued General Order No. 292 on March 23, 1882, establishing the Office of Naval Intelligence as part of the Bureau of Navigation, with Mason himself as its first "Chief Intelligence Officer". He assumed this post in June 1882. The Office was initially assigned to a small office in the State, War and Navy Building (now the Old Executive Office Building).
Despite initial difficulties, the different Bureaus recognized its value and used it to share information amongst themselves and used this information in justifying funds needed for Navy expansion and modernization.
In The War of the Pacific Coast of South America Between Chile and the Allied Republics of Peru and Bolivia,[4] Mason wrote one such account in which he described the belligerents of the Atacama border dispute. As stated above, he was resourceful and reports that the material used for the paper was derived from personal observation, from apparently authentic publications, and from other Naval officers within the region at the time of the conflict. Mason's work is a chronology of events leading up to, during, and the outcome of the War of the Pacific.
Personal lifeedit
Edmonia Taylor Phelps
In 1875, Mason married Edmonia Taylor Phelps (February 1, 1858 – July 10, 1909), daughter of Rear Admiral Thomas S. Phelps.[2][5]
Referencesedit
^ abc"End of a Notable Career". Evening Star. Washington, D.C. 16 October 1899. p. 3.
^ abcdJulian-James, Cassie Mason Myers (1908). Biographical Sketches of the Bailey-Myers-Mason Families, 1776 to 1905: Key to a Cabinet of Heirlooms in the National Museum, Washington. Washington D.C.: Villa Pax. pp. 59–74.
^Mason, Theodorus Bailey Myers (1885). The War of the Pacific Coast of South America Between Chile and the Allied Republics of Peru and Bolivia. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office.
^"Wives of Naval Officers". Evening Star. Washington, D.C. 18 May 1889. p. 9.
External linksedit
Weber, Christen M. (2014). Thomas, Joseph (ed.). Leadership Embodied: The Secrets to Success of the Most Effective Navy. Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press. p. 39. ISBN9781612513331.
theodorus, mason, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, april, 20. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Theodorus B M Mason news newspapers books scholar JSTOR April 2007 Learn how and when to remove this message Theodorus Bailey Myers Mason May 8 1848 October 15 1899 was the founder and first head of the United States Office of Naval Intelligence with the post of Chief Intelligence Officer prior to it being redesignated as Director of Naval Intelligence in 1911 T B M MasonBirth nameTheodorus Bailey Myers MasonBorn 1848 05 08 May 8 1848DiedOctober 15 1899 1899 10 15 aged 51 Saugerties New York USPlace of burialGreen Wood CemeteryAllegiance United States of AmericaService wbr branch United States NavyYears of service1864 94RankLieutenant commanderUnitUSS Guerriere USS Pensacola USS Macedonian USS Savannah USS Dale USS Essex USS Trenton 1 USS Brooklyn USS New York 2 Commands heldOffice of Naval IntelligenceAwardsOrder of the Rose 1 Mason came from a distinguished New York family He was the son of Theodorus Bailey Myers who was a lawyer and served as a colonel in the United States Army during the Civil War his uncle Rear Adm Theodorus Bailey served under Admiral David Farragut in New Orleans He adopted the last name Mason in deference to his maternal grandfather Sidney Mason who had no male heirs to carry on the family name A graduate of the United States Naval Academy in 1868 Mason was a distinguished linguist with an inquisitive mind qualities that gave him respect and recognition in the Navy After a stint in the Hydrographic Office he travelled extensively in Europe and South America as a naval observer collecting ideas on naval intelligence systems he knew what information was available and how to obtain it He recognized that in order for the Navy to compete with its European counterparts research in naval science and technology should be encouraged as part of this objective a unified intelligence agency was needed to gather information on foreign developments for proper dissemination and coordination with the different Bureaus He made these recommendations upon the request of Secretary of the Navy William H Hunt Hunt read and agreed with most of Lt Mason s recommendations and consequently issued General Order No 292 on March 23 1882 establishing the Office of Naval Intelligence as part of the Bureau of Navigation with Mason himself as its first Chief Intelligence Officer He assumed this post in June 1882 The Office was initially assigned to a small office in the State War and Navy Building now the Old Executive Office Building Despite initial difficulties the different Bureaus recognized its value and used it to share information amongst themselves and used this information in justifying funds needed for Navy expansion and modernization Mason clearly guided the ONI well during its first years and was succeeded by Lt Raymond P Rodgers in April 1885 He was promoted to lieutenant commander in January 1894 and retired from the Navy in December due to ill health 2 He died in Saugerties on 15 October 1899 1 and was interred in the Mason family mausoleum at the Green Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn NY 2 3 In The War of the Pacific Coast of South America Between Chile and the Allied Republics of Peru and Bolivia 4 Mason wrote one such account in which he described the belligerents of the Atacama border dispute As stated above he was resourceful and reports that the material used for the paper was derived from personal observation from apparently authentic publications and from other Naval officers within the region at the time of the conflict Mason s work is a chronology of events leading up to during and the outcome of the War of the Pacific Personal life edit nbsp Edmonia Taylor Phelps In 1875 Mason married Edmonia Taylor Phelps February 1 1858 July 10 1909 daughter of Rear Admiral Thomas S Phelps 2 5 References edit a b c End of a Notable Career Evening Star Washington D C 16 October 1899 p 3 a b c d Julian James Cassie Mason Myers 1908 Biographical Sketches of the Bailey Myers Mason Families 1776 to 1905 Key to a Cabinet of Heirlooms in the National Museum Washington Washington D C Villa Pax pp 59 74 Green Wood Cemetery Mason Theodorus Bailey Myers 1885 The War of the Pacific Coast of South America Between Chile and the Allied Republics of Peru and Bolivia Washington D C U S Government Printing Office Wives of Naval Officers Evening Star Washington D C 18 May 1889 p 9 External links editWeber Christen M 2014 Thomas Joseph ed Leadership Embodied The Secrets to Success of the Most Effective Navy Annapolis MD Naval Institute Press p 39 ISBN 9781612513331 Preceded byNone Head of the Office of Naval Intelligence Chief Intelligence Officer June 1882 April 1885 Succeeded byRaymond P Rodgers Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Theodorus B M Mason amp oldid 1219968735, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
