- Date of Birth22 / 02 / 1876
- Died15 / 07 / 1956
- Lions Tours1899
- International CapsIreland / Lions.
- Lions Origin SchoolsMerchiston Castle School Edinburgh, Coleraine AI
- Lions Origin ClubsNorth of Ireland, Cambridge University RFC
Born in Belfast, Tom McGown embodied the true multi-national spirit of the British & Irish Lions having been educated at Merchiston Castle School in Scotland and Cambridge in England.
It was at Cambridge where his skill as a forward became known and he earned his Blue in the Varsity match in 1896, before he joined North of Ireland FC and won his first Ireland cap of three in 1899.
He was involved in the very first Irish win on Scottish soil, as the men in green earned the Triple Crown, before being invited to join the Lions on the 1899 Australia Tour.
McGown played an astonishing 19 of the 20 games, showing his supreme endurance as a forward, only missing the match against Maryborough.
He had relatives living in New Zealand and paid them a visit after the season was done, and also went on to fight for the British Army during the First World War.