Dictionary of National Biography, 1901 supplement/MacMahon, John Henry
MACMAHON, JOHN HENRY (1829–1900), scholar and divine, born at Dublin in 1829, was son of John Macmahon, a barrister. He was educated at Enniskillen, and on 1 July 1846 entered Trinity College, Dublin, as a pensioner; he graduated B.A. in 1852, being senior moderator and gold medallist in ethics and logic, and proceeded M.A. in 1856. He took holy orders in 1853, and held for some years a cure of souls under Dr. Alexander, the present primate of Ireland, but retired from parochial work after the disestablishment of the Irish church in 1869. He was subsequently chaplain to the lord-lieutenant, and from 1890 to the Mountjoy prison. He died at Dublin on 23 May 1900.
MacMahon was deeply read in Aristotle, the Christian fathers, and the schoolmen, but was not an original thinker. He contributed to Bohn's 'Classical Library' the 'Metaphysics of Aristotle, literally translated from the Greek, with Notes, Analysis, Questions, and Index,' London, 1857, 8vo; and to Clarke's 'Ante-Nicene Library' 'The Refutation of all Heresies by Hippolytus, translated,' Edinburgh, 1888, 8vo. He was also author of 'A Treatise on Metaphysics, chiefly in reference to Revealed Religion}' London, 1860, 8vo (an essay similar in scope to Mansel's celebrated 'Bampton Lectures'), and of 'Church and State in England: its [sic] Origin and Use,' London, 1873, 8vo (an historico-juristic argument for the maintenance of the established church).
[Cat. Dubl. Grad.; Times, 24 May 1900; Brit. Mus. Cat.; information from the registrar of Trinity College, Dublin.]