William Mason

English stenographer

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June 30, 2026

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William Mason was an English inventor of a shorthand system in the 17th century. His method was influential and later adapted for use in the British Parliament. Shorthand, also known as stenography, is a system of rapid writing using symbols or abbreviations for letters, words, or phrases. It allows for quick recording of speech, such as in legislative bodies or court proceedings. Mason's work contributed to the development of shorthand systems that emerged after the Reformation.1

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shorthand
History and development of shorthand
…his method of shorthand; and William Mason, whose method was used to record sermons and to translate the Bible in the years following the Reformation. Mason’s system was later adapted and became the official system of the British Parliament.
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…his method of shorthand; and William Mason, whose method was used to record sermons and to translate the Bible in the years following the Reformation. Mason’s system was later adapted and became the official system of the British Parliament.
Read More