Patrick MacMahon was born in Ireland in 1855, qualified as a solicitor, was called to the bar in April 1879. He emigrated to Australia, arriving in Melbourne in October 1880. He became editor of the Kapunda Herald in 1883, became interested in politics and was elected MP for West Adelaide in the South Australian parliament 1887. Defeated in 1890, he was re-elected at by-election 1895. He was elected delegate for South Australia to the Federal Convention 1897. The Commonwealth was inaugurated on 1 January 1901 and he was elected to the Parliament in Melbourne. He was Attorney-General in 1909 and Minister for External Affairs in 1913. He was one of three Liberal MPs selected to visit England in 1916 at the invitation of the Empire Parliamentary Association. Minister for Home and Territories 1917, he lost his seat at the election of 1919. His practice had grown steadily and had become one of the largest in Adelaide. He died on 28 October 1931.
From the description of Speech [manuscript]. 1965, Jul. 30. (Libraries Australia). WorldCat record id: 224570581
