TheMacMahon family[1] originated in Ireland and later established itself in France, where it gained prominence.[2] In the context ofFrench nobility, the head of the family holds the titles ofDuc de Magenta andMarquis de MacMahon.
John MacMahon (1715–1775), anIrish doctor born inLimerick, became naturalised inFrance in 1749 and married Charlotte Le Belin, Dame d'Éguilly, on 13 April 1750. That same year, KingLouis XV of France created himCount d'Equilly.[3] In 1763, John MacMahon further received the title ofMarquis d'Éguilly. His son, the 2nd Marquis, served in theAmerican War of Independence, including on the frigateAigle which the Britishcaptured on 15 September 1782.[4] The senior line of the MacMahon family continued until the death of the 5th Marquis in 1894.
Patrice de MacMahon, a grandson of the first Marquis from the MacMahon family's younger line, served with distinction as a general in theCrimean War of 1853–56 and later in theAustro-Sardinian War of 1859, winning theBattle of Magenta on 4 June 1859. The following day EmperorNapoleon III created himDuc de Magenta. Later he becamePresident of the French Republic, serving from 1873 to 1879.[3]
At the 1st Duc de Magenta's death in 1893, his titles passed to his eldest sonArmand 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. The title ofMarquis d'Eguilly was later changed toMarquis de MacMahon.
Thefamily seat of the de MacMahon family was theChâteau de la Forêt [fr] inMontcresson in theLoiret department of north-central France (where the 1st Duke died) but, after 1894, they inherited the current family seat from the senior line, theChâteau de Sully in Sully in theSaone-et-Loire department.[5]
The holders of the title of Marquis d'Éguilly have included:
The holders of the title of Duc de Magenta have included:[7]
John MacMahon (or Jean Baptiste de MacMahon) […] who, in 1750, was ennobled by the French Government, and created "Count d'Equilly" […] Marshal Patrick MacMahon, President of the French Republic, Duke of Magenta
Mac-Mahon (Charles-Laure, Marquis de), descended from a noble Irish family who ruined itself for the cause of the Stuarts, and who followed them to France. He was officer of artillery on the Aigle, in 1782 […] when this frigate was stranded at the mouth of the Delaware
{{cite book}}:|work= ignored (help)born Philippe de MacMahon (1938), the fourth Duc de Magenta is also descended from the Bourbon Kings of France and is related to the present chief claimant to the French throne. MacMahon became an illustrious name in France and part of the French nobility