John Talbot Dillon

Sir John Talbot Dillon, 1st Baronet, Baron Dillon (1739 – 17 July 1805) was an Irish politician and baronet, traveller and historical writer.

Career and travels

Dillon was the son of Arthur Dillon and Elizabeth Lambert, daughter of Ralph Lambert;^[1] and grandson of Sir John Dillon of Lismullen, knight, and Member of Parliament for Meath. Dillon sat in the Parliament of Ireland, representing Wicklow Borough from 1771 to 1776, and then Blessington from 1776 to 1783.

For much of this period, however, he was abroad, travelling in Italy and Spain, or residing in Vienna, where he enjoyed the favour of the Emperor Joseph II, from whom he received the title of Baron Dillon, of the Holy Roman Empire, on 4 July 1783. He used this title after recognition by King George III per Royal License on 22 February 1784. In the obituary notice in the Gentleman's Magazine for September 1805 it is said that this honour was conferred in recognition of his services in parliament on behalf of Catholics; and the date is given as 1782, which is repeated in the Baronetages of William Betham and Foster.

Family

Dillon married Millicent Drake with whom he had six sons and three daughters. He was created a baronet of the United Kingdom by King George III in 1801, and died in Dublin in August 1805.

Notes

References

• Turner, Katherine. "Dillon, John Talbot". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/7658.  (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)

Attribution

•  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Stephen, Leslie, ed. (1888). "Dillon, John Talbot". Dictionary of National Biography. 15. London: Smith, Elder & Co.