Born in Philadelphia, son of John Mease who crossed the Delaware with Washington in 1779. Received A.B. from the University of the State of Pennsylvania in 1787. Received M.D. from University of Pennsylvania in 1792. Married to Sarah Butler, daughter of Pierce Butler. Served as a hospital surgeon during the War of 1812.

Served as first vice-president of the Philadelphia Athenaeum. He wrote about Mint operations in his Pictures of Philadelphia. He wrote “Description of the Medals, Struck in relation to Important Events in North America since the Declaration of Independence by the United States.”

In 1812 he published a recipe for ketchup that became a popular condiment.

Philadelphia polymath, notable in numismatics for an early (1811) account of Mint operations in his Pictures of Philadelphia.