Robert Dillon, 2nd Earl Roscommon


Robert Dillon, 2nd Earl of Roscommon PC became earl of Roscommon only a bit more than a year before his death. He was one of the keepers of the King's seal and, for a short time, a Lord Justice of Ireland.

Birth and origins

Robert was born in Ireland, the eldest son of James Dillon and his wife Eleanor Barnewall. His father was the 1st Earl of Roscommon. His family was Old English and descended from Sir Henry Dillon who came to Ireland with Prince John in 1185. His family held substantial lands in Meath, Westmeath, Longford and Roscommon. Robert's mother, who was also called Helen, was a daughter of Christopher Barnewall of Turvey House, Dublin. Her family also was Old English.


Robert was one of seven brothers and had six sisters.

Marriages and children

Dillon married three times and had five sons from his three wives. Nothing seems to be known about his daughters.

First marriage

In about 1600 Dillon married Margaret Barry. She was a daughter of David FitzDavid de Barry, grand-daughter of David de Barry, 5th Viscount Buttevant and sister of David Barry, 1st Earl of Barrymore. His wife's family, the de Barrys, was Old English like his own.
With Margaret he had:
  1. James, became the 3rd Earl Roscommon;
  2. Lucas, died childless;
  3. David, died an infant.

    Second marriage

He married secondly Dorothy, fourth daughter of George Hastings, 4th Earl of Huntingdon, widow of Sir James Steuart.
With Dorothy he had:
  1. Henry, died unmarried.

    Third marriage

He married thirdly Anne, dowager Baroness Folliott, daughter of Sir William Strode.
With Anne he had:
  1. Carey, became the 5th Earl Roscommon.

    Career

On 24 January 1620 his father was raised to the peerage with the title of Baron Dillon of Kilkenny-West, in the Peerage of Ireland. in a ceremony performed by the Lord Deputy Oliver St. John in the Presence Chamber of Dublin Castle on 25 January.
On 5 August 1622 Robert's father was furthered honoured by being made Earl of Roscommon. In consequence of his fathers advancement, Robert, the heir apparent, was styled Lord Kilkenny-West, as a courtesy title from 1622 to 1641.
His mother died on 11 October 1628.
On 14 July 1634, his father took his seat in the Irish House of Lords.
On 26 May 1638 a "Robert Lord Dillon" was appointed as one of the keepers of the King's seal. It seems that people found that Lord Kilkenny-West was a bit cumbersome as a title and called him Lord Dillon instead.
Soon after Lord Deputy Christopher Wandesford's death on 3 December 1640 Charles I appointed Lord Dillon together with Sir William Parsons Lords Justices for Ireland, but Dillon was considered to have been too closely associated with Strafford and was soon replaced. John Borlase was chosen as his successor.
His father died in March 1641 and he succeeded as the 2nd Earl of Roscommon.

Death and timeline

Lord Roscommon, as he was finally now, died on 27 August 1642 in Oxmantown, a quarter in Dublin's Northside.