William Mason (stenographer) facts for kids

William Mason was an English teacher of writing and shorthand who lived and worked from about 1672 to 1709. He was known for his amazing skill in writing very tiny letters and for creating his own special ways of writing shorthand.

Mason's Life and Work

William Mason lived and worked in London, England. He became interested in shorthand writing around 1659. Shorthand is a fast way of writing using symbols and abbreviations, much quicker than regular writing. At first, he learned a shorthand system that was already popular. But after a few years, he decided he could create an even better system himself.

By 1682, Mason was a well-known teacher. He taught writing and shorthand at his school in Prince's Court, a place called Lothbury, which was close to the Royal Exchange in London. People were very impressed by his ability to write incredibly small. He was so good at it that it was famous!

Later, in 1687, he moved his school to a new place called the Hand and Pen on Gracechurch Street. Then, in 1699, he moved again to another Hand and Pen location in Scalding Alley. He taught students both at his school and at his home.

Mason's Shorthand Books

William Mason wrote and published several books about his shorthand systems. These books helped other people learn his fast writing methods.

• A Pen pluck'd from an Eagles Wing (1672): This was his first book about a very quick way to write shorthand.
• Arts Advancement (1682): In this book, Mason shared his new and improved shorthand method. He said he had spent over 20 years practicing and studying other systems to make his own perfect. This book was so popular that it was printed again in 1687 and 1699.
• La Plume Volante (1707): This was his third and most advanced shorthand system. The title means "The Flying Pen" in French. Mason had been teaching this system by hand for 15 years before he finally published it. This book was also very popular and was reprinted many times.

Mason's La Plume Volante system was later changed a little bit by another shorthand writer named Thomas Gurney. Gurney published it as Brachygraphy in 1750. This updated system became very important. It was used by official shorthand writers in the British Parliament for a long time, helping them quickly record speeches and debates.

Mason also wrote other helpful books for shorthand writers:

• A regular and easie Table of Natural Contractions (around 1672): This book helped people learn common shortcuts in shorthand.
• Aurea Clavis, or a Golden Key to the Cabinet of Contractions (1695): This book also focused on useful shorthand shortcuts.
• An ample Vocabulary of Practical Examples to the whole Art of Short-writing: This was a handwritten book with thousands of examples of words and phrases written in shorthand. It is now kept at the Harvard College Library.