Sir John McMahon, 1st Baronet

Colonel Sir John McMahon, 1st Baronet (c. 1754 – 12 September 1817) was an Irish-born politician and Private Secretary to the Sovereign 1811–1817.

For the United States Representative from Ohio, see John A. McMahon.

Colonel The Right Honourable Sir John McMahon Bt
1815 engraving by Charles Turner, after a painting by Sir Thomas Lawrence
Private Secretary to the Sovereign
In office 1811–1817
Preceded by	Lt. Gen. Sir Herbert Taylor
Succeeded by	Lt. Gen. Sir Benjamin Bloomfield
Personal details
Nationality	British

Biography

He was born in Limerick, son of John MacMahon, comptroller of the port of Limerick; little is known of his mother, and even her name is uncertain. By his second wife, Mary Stackpoole, his father has two other sons William and Thomas, who both achieved distinction.

McMahon was commissioned into the 44th Foot, and later transferred to the 48th Foot and the 87th Foot. He served as a Member of Parliament for Aldeburgh from 1802 to 1812. He was Paymaster of Widows Pensions in 1812. He was Keeper of the Privy Purse, Auditor of the Duchy of Cornwall, and Secretary to the Duke of Cornwall. A proposal that he receive a salary of £2,000 as Private Secretary was rejected by Parliament in 1812.

McMahon was appointed a Privy Counsellor in 1812, and died in 1817, having been made a Baronet shortly before his death. He was succeeded in the baronetcy according to a special remainder by his brother General Sir Thomas McMahon, 2nd Baronet. He undoubtedly used his position to benefit his family:[1] his half-brother William MacMahon obtained the coveted judicial office of Master of the Rolls in Ireland through John's influence, and in the event he proved to be a popular and respected judge.[2]

He had no children but his title passed by special remainder to his brother Thomas.

Literary references

He is a minor character in Georgette Heyer's novel Regency Buck, which shows him in a rather unflattering light.

References

1. Geoghegan, Patrick M. King Dan-the rise of Daniel O'Connell Gill and Macmillan Dublin 208 p.72
2. Ball, F. Elrington The Judges in Ireland 1221-1921 John Murray, London 1926

External links

• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Sir John McMahon

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Sir John Aubrey George Johnstone	Member of Parliament for Aldeburgh 1802–1812 With: Sir John Aubrey	Succeeded by Sir John Aubrey Sandford Graham
Political offices
Preceded by Thomas Tyrwhitt	Auditor of the Duchy of Cornwall 1803–1816	Succeeded by Sir Benjamin Bloomfield
Preceded by Mark Singleton	Storekeeper of the Ordnance 1806–1807	Succeeded by Mark Singleton
Preceded by Richard Brinsley Sheridan	Receiver-General of the Duchy of Cornwall 1816–1817	Succeeded by Lord William Gordon
Court offices
Preceded by Herbert Taylor	Private Secretary to the Sovereign 1811–1817	Succeeded by Sir Benjamin Bloomfield
Preceded by The Earl of Cardigan	Keeper of the Privy Purse 1812–1817
Baronetage of the United Kingdom
New creation	Baronet (of Ashley Manor) 1817	Succeeded by Thomas McMahon