MacMahon family

The MacMahon family[1] originated in Ireland and later established itself in France, where it gained prominence.

John MacMahon (1715–1775), an Irish doctor born in Limerick, became naturalised in France in 1749 and married Charlotte Le Belin, Dame d'Éguilly, on 13 April 1750.

His son, the 2nd Marquis, served in the American War of Independence, including on the frigate Aigle which the British captured on 15 September 1782.

Patrice de MacMahon, a grandson of the first Marquis from the MacMahon family's younger line, served with distinction as a general in the Crimean War of 1853–56 and later in the Austro-Sardinian War of 1859, winning the Battle of Magenta on 4 June 1859.

[3] At the 1st Duc de Magenta's death in 1893, his titles passed to his eldest son Armand de MacMahon (1855–1927), who in 1894 also succeeded as 6th Marquis d'Eguilly, thus uniting the titles held by the senior and the younger lines of the MacMahon family.