Thomas Dillon, 4th Viscount Dillon

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Thomas Dillon, 4th Viscount Dillon (1615-1672) was an Irish peer.

In 1630 converted to become a Protestant when he succeeded his nephew as Viscount Dillon. He subsequently took his seat in Parliament.

In February 1641, on the way to meet Charles II of England he and his brother in law Theobald Viscount Taaffe, were seized at Ware by order of the House of Commons. They escaped a few months later and joined the King at York.

Upon Dillon's return to Ireland, he was made Lieutenant-General, and was appointed joint President of Connaught with Viscount Wilmot.

On the 6th December 1646 he was received back into the Catholic Church by Nuncio Rinnuccini at St. Mary's Cathedral, Kilkenny.

He commanded a division of Ormond's army which was defeated before Dublin by the Parliamentary leader, General Jones, in 1649.

Dillon's estates were confiscated by Cromwell, and he and his family lived in exile on the Continent until the Restoration. In 1663 most of his extensive landed property was restored, and several high offices in the state were conferred upon him."^[1]

On 3 January 1667 a Warrant written from Dublin Castle was sent to Dillon. It related to the pay and provisioning of men, Viscount Dillon had earlier been appointed to raise for special service in the province of Connaught

He died about 1672. The family appear to have had a house in Winetavernstreet, Dublin, as his wife and one of his sons died there, and were buried in St. James's churchyard.

[edit] Family

Included in his inheritance, Thomas inherited an estate of 2500 acres in Mayo and Roscommon from his uncle, Sir James Dillon, youngest son of 1st Viscount Dillon

He was uncle of 3rd Viscount Dillon

He married Frances White granddaughter of 1st Viscount Moore.