Random Thoughts
The boy governor – Part 2
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March 16, 2018
In 1830, President Andrew Jackson appointed John Mason, a member of a prominent Virginia political family, to be the Secretary of Michigan Territory. By law, presidents appointed a governor, a secretary, and three judges for each U.S. territory.
A year later, however, Jackson decided to send Mason on a diplomatic mission to Mexico. To replace him as the Secretary of Michigan Territory Jackson appointed Mason’s son, Stevens Mason, who was only 19 years old at the time!
The secretary’s job was to keep the territory’s legal records and – if the governor was away – to become acting governor. Steve...
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