Lieutenant (later Lieutenant Commander) Theodorus Bailey Myers Mason was founder and first head of the United States Office of Naval Intelligence, with the post of Chief Intelligence Officer (prior to it being designated as Director of Naval Intelligence in 1911). From a distinguished New York family, he was son of Theodorus Bailey Myers, a lawyer and a Colonel in the United States Army during the Civil War. He took his name Mason from his maternal grandfather who had no heirs. Graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1868, before travelling extensively with the US Navy. Married to Edmonia Taylor Phelps in 1875. Mason retired in 1894 and died 1899 in New York State.