| James Dillon | |
| Earl of Roscommon | |
| Tenure: | 1622–1641 |
| Successor: | Robert, 2nd Earl of Roscommon |
| Spouse: | Eleanor Barnewall |
| Issue: | Robert & others |
| Issue-Link: |
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| Father: | Lucas Dillon |
| Mother: | Jane Bathe |
| Death Date: | March 1641 |
James Dillon, 1st Earl of Roscommon (died March 1641) fought for the crown in the Nine Years' War. He was ennobled despite being a Catholic after his son Robert turned Protestant.
James was born in Ireland, the eldest son of Lucas Dillon (– 1593) and his first wife Jane Bathe. At the time of his birth, his father was a lawyer but would later become a judge and finish his career as Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer. His father's family was Old English and descended from Sir Henry Dillon who came to Ireland with Prince John in 1185 during the Anglo-Norman invasion of Ireland. His family held substantial lands in Meath, Westmeath, Longford, and Roscommon.
James's mother was a daughter of James Bathe (c. 1500 – 1570), who preceded James's father as chief baron of the Irish Exchequer. She was James's father's first wife. His father's second marriage was childless. James was one of 12 siblings, who are listed in his father's article.
Dillon's father remarried in 1575 to Marion Barnewall, née Sharl (or Sherle), the widow of Sir Christopher Barnewall (1522–1575) of Turvey House, Dublin. Marion, his stepmother, had 15 children from her first marriage, among them Eleanor with whom James fell in love.
Dillon married Eleanor Barnewall, also called Helen, his step-sister through his father's second marriage. She was a daughter of Sir Christopher Barnewall of Turvey.
James and Eleanor had 13 children, seven sons:
—and six daughters:
Dillon's father died in February 1593 in Dublin. There must have been some complications with the inheritance as Dillon obtained special livery of his inheritance in 1595 when he was about 30.
In 1599, during the Nine Years' War (1593–1603), Dillon raised a troop of 25 horse loyal to Elizabeth I at his own expense, to help keep order in County Roscommon. Dillon was knighted, probably by the new Lord Deputy Mountjoy in November 1600.
His eldest son, Robert, the future 2nd earl, and his grandson James, the future 3rd earl, were both raised as Catholics but conformed to the established religion, while Dillon himself stayed Catholic. Robert converted before 1619. James, born in 1605, was at a young age converted by James Ussher, Archbishop of Armagh.
On 24 January 1620 Dillon was raised to the peerage with the title of Baron Dillon of Kilkenny-West, in the Peerage of Ireland. This elevation was announced in a ceremony performed by the chief governor of Ireland, Lord Deputy Oliver St. John, in the Presence Chamber of Dublin Castle on 25 January.
On 5 August 1622 Lord Kilkenny-West was advanced to the dignity of Earl of Roscommon. His baronial dignity became a subsidiary title, which he gave as a courtesy title to his heir apparent as is the custom. His eldest son Robert, therefore, was styled Lord Kilkenny-West from 1622 on.
Lord Roscommon was a signatory of a response to Charles I from the Lords of the Pale that established a military force to protect The Crown's interests in Ireland. In 1627, he was a Commissioner for raising money for the King's Army in Meath, Westmeath and Longford.
His wife predeceased him on 11 October 1628.
On 14 July 1634, Lord Roscommon took his seat in the Irish House of Lords. This was the first Irish Parliament called by King Charles I.
He died in March 1641 and was succeeded in his titles by his eldest son, Robert as the 2nd Earl of Roscommon.
| Timeline | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Age | Date | Event | |
| 0 | 1565, estimate | Born | |
| 1570 | Father appointed Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer | ||
| 1575 | Father married 2ndly Marion Barnewall, née Sharl, after James's mother's death | ||
| 1587, about | Married Eleanor (or Helen), 2nd Daughter of Sir Christopher Barnewall by Marion Sharl, his stepmother | ||
| 1593, Feb | Father died in Dublin | ||
| 1595, 8 Apr | Had special livery of his inheritance. | ||
| 1599 | Raised a troop of 25 horse loyal to Elizabeth I at his own expense | ||
| 1600, 21 Jan | Mountjoy, appointed Lord Deputy of Ireland | ||
| 1603, 24 Mar | Accession of King James I, succeeding Queen Elizabeth I | ||
| 1603, 30 Mar | The Treaty of Mellifont ended Tyrone's Rebellion. | ||
| 1604, Nov | Daughter Jane married Christopher Dillon of Ballylaghan, the heir apparent of Theobald Dillon, 1st Viscount Dillon | ||
| 1605, about | Birth of grandson James, the future 3rd Earl | ||
| 1615, 2 Jul | Oliver St John, appointed Lord Deputy of Ireland | ||
| 1620, 24 Jan | Created Baron Dillon of Kilkenny-West | ||
| 1622, 5 Aug | Elevated to Earl of Roscommon | ||
| 1625, 27 Mar | Accession of King Charles I, succeeding King James I | ||
| 1628, 11 Oct | Wife died | ||
| 1634, 14 Jul | Took his seat in the Irish House of Lords | ||
| 1641, Mar | Died | ||