5th Dragoon Guards


Sir Thomas Westropp McMahon Bt CB


General Sir Thomas Westropp McMahon, 3rd Bt was born in London on 17th Feb 1813, the son of Lt.-Gen. Sir Thomas McMahon, 2nd Bt and Emily Anne Westropp. He married, firstly, Dora Paulina Baillie, on 7 October 1851. Secondly, Frances Mary Holford, on 13 January 1859. He married, thirdly, Constance Booking on 14 August 1888. He died on 23 January 1892.

He was invested as a Companion, Order of the Bath (CB). He served in the 9th Lancers and fought in the Battle of Sobraon on 10 February 1846. He fought in the Crimean War. He gained the rank of Colonel in the service of the 5th Dragoon Guards and commanded them from 1855 after first serving on the staff in the Crimea. He relinquished command in 1861. He succeeded to the title of 3rd Baronet McMahon on 10th April 1860. He was commander of the Cavalry Brigade at Aldershot with the rank of major-general and Inspector-General of Cavalry from 1871 to 1876. He was appointed Colonel of the 18th Hussars on 6th Jan 1874 and exchanged to the colonelcy of the 5th Dragoon Guards on 16th Mar 1885.

Children of General Sir Thomas Westropp McMahon, 3rd Bt. and Frances Mary Holford:

Sir Aubrey Hope McMahon, 4th Bt b. 26 Aug 1862, d. 8 Apr 1893
Lt.-Col. Sir Horace Westropp McMahon, 5th Bt b. 28 Oct 1863, d. 9 Jul 1932
Francis Yorke McMahon b. 16 Dec 1864, d. 6 Jul 1897
Brig.-Gen. Norman Reginald McMahon b. 24 Jan 1866, d. 11 Nov 1914
Frances Mary Holford McMahon b. 25 Mar 1867, d. 18 Jun 1926

The mother of these offspring, Frances Mary, died in 1867 and he married in 1888 for the third time. She was Constance, widow of Mr John Booking, but it seems that the marriage broke down. Sir Thomas lived at The Sycamores, Farnborough, Hants, which he bought in 1871, while Constance lived at 40 Queensgate in London. The print of Sir Thomas was made whilst he was Commanding Officer of the 5th DG, c1856.


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by Stephen Luscombe