Robert Means Mason (1810-1879)

He was the son of U.S. Senator Jeremiah Mason and a first cousin of First Lady of the United States, Jane Means (Appleton) Pierce. He became a merchant first in Philadelphia and then in New York before returning to his native Boston where he went into partnership with Amos Adams Lawrence. He was a co-owner in the Boston Athenæum. He married Sarah, daughter and co-heiress of Ebenezer Francis who was one of the two wealthiest men in Boston and they were survived by three daughters. They frequently travelled to Europe and lived between their Bulfinch-designed mansion in Boston (purchased from Thomas Dixon) at 1 Walnut Street (famous as the home of Thomas Lindall Winthrop) and their summer home on Rhode Island Avenue, Newport.