McGown played international rugby for Ireland and in 1899 he was selected for the British Isles team on its tour of Australia.
McGown was born in Belfast in 1876, and was educated at Merchiston Castle School in Scotland, before being accepted into Clare College, Cambridge in 1894.
McGown reached the rank of Major[3] holding the additional posts of Deputy Adjutant and Quartermaster-General.
This was the first game to be played at Scotland's new ground in Inverleith, and resulted in the very first Irish win on Scottish soil.
Although McGown was not present for the final game against Wales, the victory made him a Triple Crown winning player.