Martin T. McMahon

Martin Thomas McMahon
Martin Thomas McMahon
Born	(1838-03-21)March 21, 1838 La Prairie, Quebec, Canada
Died	April 21, 1906(1906-04-21) (aged 68) New York City, New York
Place of burial	Arlington National Cemetery
Allegiance	United States of America Union
Service/branch	United States Army Union Army
Years of service	1861–1866
Rank	Lieutenant Colonel Brevet Major General
Unit	Adjutant General's Corps
Battles/wars	American Civil War Battle of White Oak Swamp
Awards	Medal of Honor

Martin Thomas McMahon (March 21, 1838 – April 21, 1906) was an American jurist and a Union Army general during the American Civil War. He was awarded the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions at the Battle of White Oak Swamp. After the war, he held various legal and judicial positions in the state of New York. He briefly served as the Minister Resident to Paraguay and was a New York State Senator for four years.

Early life

McMahon was born in La Prairie, Quebec, Canada,^[1] to a family of recent immigrants from Waterford, Ireland. The family moved to the United States when McMahon was an infant and settled in New York. He graduated from St. John's College, Fordham, in 1855 and then studied law in Buffalo,^[2] receiving his Master's degree in 1857.^[1] After his schooling, he traveled west and worked as a special agent for the post office on the Pacific coast. He was admitted to the Sacramento, California, bar in 1861.^[2]

Civil War

At the outbreak of the Civil War, he raised a company of cavalry and was given the rank of captain at the head of that unit. After learning that his company would not be sent to the front lines, he resigned his command and returned east, where he was appointed aide-de-camp to General George B. McClellan. McMahon remained with the Army of the Potomac throughout the war, eventually rising to the rank of brevet major general.^[2] Decades after the end of the conflict, in 1891, he was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions at the Battle of White Oak Swamp on June 30, 1862. His official citation reads: "Under fire of the enemy, successfully destroyed a valuable train that had been abandoned and prevented it from falling into the hands of the enemy."^[3] McMahon's two older brothers were also officers in the war, both with the 164th New York Volunteer Infantry. John Eugene McMahon (1834–1863) commanded the 164th before being injured; he later died of these injuries. Middle brother James Power McMahon (1836–1864) took over the regiment and led it until his death at the Battle of Cold Harbor.^[2]

In 1866, after the end of the war, McMahon resigned his Army commission^[2] and received a Doctor of Laws degree from St. John's College, Fordham.^[1] He was New York City's corporation counsel for two years before becoming the United States minister to Paraguay, a position he held from 1868 to 1869.^[2] After returning to the U.S., he served as the Receiver of Taxes in New York from 1873 to 1885 and then worked as a U.S. Marshal for four years. During this time he became connected with the National Soldiers' Home, of which he would serve as president for several years.^[1]

Political career and death

He was a member of the New York State Assembly (New York Co., 7th D.) in 1891; and of the New York State Senate from 1892 to 1895, sitting in the 115th, 116th (both 8th D.), 117th and 118th New York State Legislatures (both 7th D.).^[1] He was elected a judge of the Court of General Sessions in 1896 and held that position until his death.^[2] He died suddenly in 1906 at his home in Manhattan, one day after falling ill with pneumonia.^[1]

War of the Triple Alliance

While in his service as Minister Ambassador to Paraguay, he saw the outbreak of the Paraguayan War, also known as War of the Triple Alliance. He was a fierce champion of Francisco Solano López and wrote many articles very favourable to the Paraguayans.^[4]

See also

• List of American Civil War generals
• United States Ambassador to Paraguay
• Paraguayan War

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Martin T. McMahon.

• "Photo on Google Images". Retrieved October 4, 2010.