John McMahon
Encyclopedia
Colonel
Sir John McMahon, 1st Baronet (c. 1754 – 12 September 1817) was a Irish-born politician and Private Secretary to the Sovereign
1811–1817.
, son of John MacMahon, comptroller of the port of Limerick;little is known of his mother. By his second wife, Mary Stackpoole his father has two other sons William and Thomas, who 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 Thomas McMahon. He undoubtedly used his position to benefit his family: his half-brother William MacMahon
obtained the coveted judicial office of Master of the Rolls in Ireland, although in the event he proved to be a popular and respected choice.
's novel Regency Buck, which shows him in a most unflattering light.
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
Sir John McMahon, 1st Baronet (c. 1754 – 12 September 1817) was a Irish-born politician and Private Secretary to the Sovereign
Private Secretary to the Sovereign
The Private Secretary to the Sovereign is the senior operational member of the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom, as distinct from the Great Officers of the Household. The Private Secretary is the principal channel of communication with Her Majesty's Government and the...
1811–1817.
Biography
He was born in LimerickLimerick
Limerick is the third largest city in the Republic of Ireland, and the principal city of County Limerick and Ireland's Mid-West Region. It is the fifth most populous city in all of Ireland. When taking the extra-municipal suburbs into account, Limerick is the third largest conurbation in the...
, son of John MacMahon, comptroller of the port of Limerick;little is known of his mother. By his second wife, Mary Stackpoole his father has two other sons William and Thomas, who 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
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Aldeburgh
Aldeburgh (UK Parliament constituency)
Aldeburgh was a parliamentary borough represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom and its predecessor bodies.The town was enfranchised in 1571 as a borough constituency...
from 1802 to 1812. He was Paymaster of Widows Pensions in 1812.
He was Keeper of the Privy Purse
Keeper of the Privy Purse
The Keeper of the Privy Purse and Treasurer to the King/Queen is responsible for the financial management of the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom....
, Auditor of the Duchy of Cornwall
Duchy of Cornwall
The Duchy of Cornwall is one of two royal duchies in England, the other being the Duchy of Lancaster. The eldest son of the reigning British monarch inherits the duchy and title of Duke of Cornwall at the time of his birth, or of his parent's succession to the throne. If the monarch has no son, the...
, and Secretary to the Duke of Cornwall
Duke of Cornwall
The Duchy of Cornwall was the first duchy created in the peerage of England.The present Duke of Cornwall is The Prince of Wales, the eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II, the reigning British monarch .-History:...
.
A proposal that he receive a salary of £2,000 as Private Secretary was rejected by Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, located in London...
in 1812.
McMahon was appointed a Privy Counsellor
Privy Council of the United Kingdom
Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, usually known simply as the Privy Council, is a formal body of advisers to the Sovereign in the United Kingdom...
in 1812, and died in 1817, having been made a Baronet
Baronet
A baronet or the rare female equivalent, a baronetess , is the holder of a hereditary baronetcy awarded by the British Crown...
shortly before his death. He was succeeded in the baronetcy according to a special remainder by his brother General Thomas McMahon. He undoubtedly used his position to benefit his family: his half-brother William MacMahon
William MacMahon
William MacMahon was an Irish judge and member of a Limerick family which became prominent largely through personal influence over the Prince Regent.- Background :...
obtained the coveted judicial office of Master of the Rolls in Ireland, although in the event he proved to be a popular and respected choice.
Literary references
He is a minor character in Georgette HeyerGeorgette Heyer
Georgette Heyer was a British historical romance and detective fiction novelist. Her writing career began in 1921, when she turned a story for her younger brother into the novel The Black Moth. In 1925 Heyer married George Ronald Rougier, a mining engineer...
's novel Regency Buck, which shows him in a most unflattering light.