He was born on 19th July, 1888, at Glasgow, where he was educated. Tom entered the food and produce business and rose to be Chairman and joint Managing Director of Macpherson, Train & Co., Ltd., food and produce importers and exporters based in London. He was also a member and office-bearer in many trade associations. During the 1939-1945 War Tom was Chairman of the London Provision Exchange in 1941 later Regional Port Director for Scotland for The Ministry of War Transport from 1942 to 1945. In 1945 he was elected Labour M.P. for Romford and served for five years as Vice-Chairman of the Food and Agriculture Committee of the Parliamentary Labour Patty until he lost his seat in the 1950 General Election.

      In the 1914-1919 War Tom served with the H.L.I., being awarded the Meritorious Services Medal and twice Mentioned in Dispatches. He has had fifteen years' service with the TA., and he was awarded in the 1939-1945 War the American Medal of Freedom with Silver Palms for services to the U.S. Army and made an Officer of the Order of Orange Nassau for services to the Netherlands shipping.

      Lord Tom was a leading member in the formation of the Clan Macpherson Association and was its first Chairman from 1946-1952. He was largely responsible for raising the funds that secured many of the Clan treasures at the Cluny Castle auction in May 1943, and was involved in the purchase of this building as the first Clan Museum in Scotland where many of these items are now on display.

      Lady Lucy Macpherson was the eldest daughter of the Mr and Mrs Arthur Butcher of Maldon, Essex. They had one son, James Gordon Macpherson who succeeded his father as the Second Lord Drumochter in 1965 and served as International Chairman of the CMA (1960-1963). They had two daughters, Nan and Shona.