James Dillon (politician)

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For other persons named James Dillon, see James Dillon (disambiguation).

James M. Dillon (16 September 1902 - 10 February 1986) was an Irish politician and leader of Fine Gael from 1959 to 1965.

James Matthew Dillon was born in Dublin. He was the son of John Dillon, the last leader of the Irish Parliamentary Party (1918), which had been swept away by Sinn Féin in the 1918 general election.

He was educated at Mount St. Benedict's, in Gorey, County Wexford, University College Galway and King's Inns. He qualified as a barrister and was called to the bar in 1931. Dillon studied business methods at Selfridge's in London. After some time at Marshall Fields in Chicago he returned to Ireland where he became manager of the family business known as Monica Duff's in Ballaghderreen, County Roscommon.

Between 1932 and 1937 Dillon served as TD for West Donegal for the Centre Party and after its merger with Cumann na nGaedhael, the new party Fine Gael. He remained as TD for Monaghan from 1937 to 1969. Dillon became deputy leader of Fine Gael under W.T. Cosgrave. He resigned from Fine Gael in 1942 over their stance on Irish neutrality during World War II, when he urged the government to abandon neutrality and side with the Allies. In the first inter-party government (1948 - 1951) Dillon was appointed Minister for Agriculture as an Independent TD. Dillon rejoined Fine Gael in 1953.

He became Minister for Agriculture again in the second inter-party government (1954 - 1957). In 1959 James Dillon became the leader of Fine Gael, the party he was expelled from in 1942. He became president of the party in 1960. In 1965 Fine Gael lost the election to Seán Lemass and Fianna Fáil.

Dillon was a colourful contributor to Dáil proceedings and was noted for his high standard of oratory. He retired as party leader due to old age. He remained on as a TD until 1969. He then retired from politics completely and died in the Republic of Ireland at the age of 83.

[edit] Political career

Preceded by Patrick Smith	Minister for Agriculture 1948–1951	Succeeded by Thomas Walsh
Preceded by Thomas Walsh	Minister for Agriculture 1954–1957	Succeeded by Frank Aiken
Preceded by Richard Mulcahy	Leader of the Fine Gael Party 1959–1965	Succeeded by Liam Cosgrave
Preceded by John A. Costello	Leader of the Opposition 1959–1965	Succeeded by Liam Cosgrave

Leaders of Fine Gael
General Eoin O'Duffy (1933-1934) \| William T. Cosgrave (1934-1944) \| General Richard Mulcahy (1944-1959) \| James Dillon (1959-1965) \| Liam Cosgrave (1965-1977) \| Garret FitzGerald (1977-1987) \| Alan Dukes (1987-1990) \| John Bruton (1990-2001) \| Michael Noonan (2001-2002) \| Enda Kenny (2002-)