# Theobald Dillon, 7th Viscount Dillon

Theobald Dillon, 7th Viscount Dillon of Costello-Gallin (died 1691) supported King James II, was attainted on 11 May 1691, and fell in the Battle of Aughrim during the Williamite War. His attainder was reversed in favour of the 8th Viscount on 20 June 1694.

## Birth and origins

Theobald was probably born at Loughglynn, his parents' habitual residence. He was a son of Robert Dillon and his wife Rose Dillon. His father, Captain Robert Dillon of Loughglynn, was a member of the landed gentry. He was son and heir of Lucas Dillon of Loughglynn, who had been the second son of Theobald Dillon, 1st Viscount Dillon. At the time of Theobald's birth, the Dillons of Loughglynn were a cadet branch of the Viscounts Dillon. Theobald's mother was a daughter of John Dillon of Streamstown.
Theobald appears as the elder of two brothers:
* Theobald (died 1691)
* Lucas, died unmarried
His sisters were:
* Alice or Elizabeth, married James Ferrall
* Jane, married Lally
* Mary, married a Dillon of Sinogweny
Family tree :
| | | | | | | | | | | | | Theobald 1st Viscount d. 1624 | Theobald 1st Viscount d. 1624 | Theobald 1st Viscount d. 1624 | Theobald 1st Viscount d. 1624 | Theobald 1st Viscount d. 1624 | Theobald 1st Viscount d. 1624 | | | Eleanor Tuite d. 1638 | Eleanor Tuite d. 1638 | Eleanor Tuite d. 1638 | Eleanor Tuite d. 1638 | Eleanor Tuite d. 1638 | Eleanor Tuite d. 1638 |
| | | | | | | | | | | Christopher Dillon of Ballylaghan d. 1624 d.v.p.* | Christopher Dillon of Ballylaghan d. 1624 d.v.p.* | Christopher Dillon of Ballylaghan d. 1624 d.v.p.* | Christopher Dillon of Ballylaghan d. 1624 d.v.p.* | Christopher Dillon of Ballylaghan d. 1624 d.v.p.* | Christopher Dillon of Ballylaghan d. 1624 d.v.p.* | | | Lucas Dillon of Loughglynn 1579–1656 | Lucas Dillon of Loughglynn 1579–1656 | Lucas Dillon of Loughglynn 1579–1656 | Lucas Dillon of Loughglynn 1579–1656 | Lucas Dillon of Loughglynn 1579–1656 | Lucas Dillon of Loughglynn 1579–1656 | | | Jane Moore | Jane Moore | Jane Moore | Jane Moore | Jane Moore | Jane Moore |
| Lucas 2nd Viscount 1610–1629 | Lucas 2nd Viscount 1610–1629 | Lucas 2nd Viscount 1610–1629 | Lucas 2nd Viscount 1610–1629 | Lucas 2nd Viscount 1610–1629 | Lucas 2nd Viscount 1610–1629 | | | Thomas 4th Viscount 1615–1673 | Thomas 4th Viscount 1615–1673 | Thomas 4th Viscount 1615–1673 | Thomas 4th Viscount 1615–1673 | Thomas 4th Viscount 1615–1673 | Thomas 4th Viscount 1615–1673 | | | Theobald Dillon | Theobald Dillon | Theobald Dillon | Theobald Dillon | Theobald Dillon | Theobald Dillon | | | Robert D. of Loughglynn | Robert D. of Loughglynn | Robert D. of Loughglynn | Robert D. of Loughglynn | Robert D. of Loughglynn | Robert D. of Loughglynn | | | Rose Dillon of Streamstown d. 1681 | Rose Dillon of Streamstown d. 1681 | Rose Dillon of Streamstown d. 1681 | Rose Dillon of Streamstown d. 1681 | Rose Dillon of Streamstown d. 1681 | Rose Dillon of Streamstown d. 1681 |
| Theobald 3rd Viscount 1629–1630 | Theobald 3rd Viscount 1629–1630 | Theobald 3rd Viscount 1629–1630 | Theobald 3rd Viscount 1629–1630 | Theobald 3rd Viscount 1629–1630 | Theobald 3rd Viscount 1629–1630 | | | Thomas 5th Viscount d. 1674 | Thomas 5th Viscount d. 1674 | Thomas 5th Viscount d. 1674 | Thomas 5th Viscount d. 1674 | Thomas 5th Viscount d. 1674 | Thomas 5th Viscount d. 1674 | | | Lucas 6th Viscount d. 1682 | Lucas 6th Viscount d. 1682 | Lucas 6th Viscount d. 1682 | Lucas 6th Viscount d. 1682 | Lucas 6th Viscount d. 1682 | Lucas 6th Viscount d. 1682 | | | Theobald 7th Viscount d. 1691 Jacobite | Theobald 7th Viscount d. 1691 Jacobite | Theobald 7th Viscount d. 1691 Jacobite | Theobald 7th Viscount d. 1691 Jacobite | Theobald 7th Viscount d. 1691 Jacobite | Theobald 7th Viscount d. 1691 Jacobite | | | Mary Talbot d. 1691 | Mary Talbot d. 1691 | Mary Talbot d. 1691 | Mary Talbot d. 1691 | Mary Talbot d. 1691 | Mary Talbot d. 1691 |
| | | | | | | Henry 8th Viscount d. 1714 | Henry 8th Viscount d. 1714 | Henry 8th Viscount d. 1714 | Henry 8th Viscount d. 1714 | Henry 8th Viscount d. 1714 | Henry 8th Viscount d. 1714 | | | Frances Hamilton d. 1751 | Frances Hamilton d. 1751 | Frances Hamilton d. 1751 | Frances Hamilton d. 1751 | Frances Hamilton d. 1751 | Frances Hamilton d. 1751 | | | Arthur 1670–1733 French General | Arthur 1670–1733 French General | Arthur 1670–1733 French General | Arthur 1670–1733 French General | Arthur 1670–1733 French General | Arthur 1670–1733 French General | | | Christina Sheldon 1684–1757 | Christina Sheldon 1684–1757 | Christina Sheldon 1684–1757 | Christina Sheldon 1684–1757 | Christina Sheldon 1684–1757 | Christina Sheldon 1684–1757 |
| | | | | | | | | Richard 9th Viscount 1688–1737 | Richard 9th Viscount 1688–1737 | Richard 9th Viscount 1688–1737 | Richard 9th Viscount 1688–1737 | Richard 9th Viscount 1688–1737 | Richard 9th Viscount 1688–1737 | | | Charles 10th Viscount 1701–1741 | Charles 10th Viscount 1701–1741 | Charles 10th Viscount 1701–1741 | Charles 10th Viscount 1701–1741 | Charles 10th Viscount 1701–1741 | Charles 10th Viscount 1701–1741 | | | Henry 11th Viscount 1705–1787 | Henry 11th Viscount 1705–1787 | Henry 11th Viscount 1705–1787 | Henry 11th Viscount 1705–1787 | Henry 11th Viscount 1705–1787 | Henry 11th Viscount 1705–1787 | | | Charlotte Lee d. 1794 | Charlotte Lee d. 1794 | Charlotte Lee d. 1794 | Charlotte Lee d. 1794 | Charlotte Lee d. 1794 | Charlotte Lee d. 1794 |
| XXX | XXX | XXX | XXX | XXX | XXX | Subject of the article | Subject of the article | Subject of the article | Subject of the article | Subject of the article | Subject of the article | XXX | XXX | XXX | XXX | XXX | XXX | Viscounts Dillon | Viscounts Dillon | Viscounts Dillon | Viscounts Dillon | Viscounts Dillon | Viscounts Dillon |

## Marriage and children

Theobald Dillon married Mary, daughter of Sir Henry Talbot of Templeogue, County Dublin, and of Mount Talbot in County Roscommon, a brother-in-law of Richard Talbot, 1st Earl of Tyrconnell. Theobald and Mary mainly lived at Kilmore, County Roscommon.
Theobald and Mary had six sons:
* Robert, predeceased his father and died unmarried
* Henry (died 1714), became the 8th Viscount Dillon
* Arthur (1670–1733), became a general in French service
* Christopher, captain in the Dillon regiment, died unmarried
* James, in the Dillon regiment, died unmarried
* Lucas, in the Dillon regiment, died unmarried
—and two daughters:
* Jane, married Sir John Burke, Baronet of Mitford
* Bridget

## Later life

In the 1680s Dillon was lieutenant-colonel in Clanricarde's Regiment of Guards of the Irish Army.
In 1683 Lucas Dillon, 6th Viscount Dillon, died childless at Kilfaughny, County Westmeath, despite having married twice. He was the last of the senior branch descended from Christopher Dillon of Ballylaghan. Theobald, his second cousin, was the next heir male of the 1st Viscount. Theobald inherited the title and the estate, becoming the 7th Viscount Dillon.
In 1688 Lord Dillon, as he now was, raised two regiments of foot for James II, one commanded by his eldest son, Henry Dillon, the other by his second son, Arthur Dillon. Both fought in the Williamite war in Ireland, but the second, Arthur Dillon's was sent to France with the Irish Brigade in April 1690 in exchange against the Lauzon's French Expeditionary Force.
Lord Dillon was a Roman Catholic member in the Irish House of Lords of the Patriot Parliament of 1689. On 11 May 1691 he was attainted.

## Death, succession, and timeline

Lord Dillon fell at the Battle of Aughrim on 12 July 1691. His widow was killed accidentally by the explosion of a bomb during the Siege of Limerick on 7 September 1691. As he had been attainted, his title and his lands were forfeit. However, in 1694 his son Henry managed to obtain a reversal of the attainder and succeeded to title and lands.
Timeline :
| The accuracy of the given ages depends on that of his birth (estimated) and those of the dated events. |||
| Age | Date | Event |
| 0 | 1650, estimate | Born, probably at his parents' house at Loughglynn, County Roscommon. |
| 19–20 | 1670 | His third son Arthur was born. |
| 22–23 | 1673 | His distant cousin Thomas Dillon, the 4th Viscount, died and was succeeded by his son, also called Thomas Dillon. |
| 23–24 | 1674 | His 2nd cousin Thomas Dillon, the 5th Viscount, died and was succeeded by Lucas Dillon, another of his 2nd cousins. |
| 31–32 | 1682 | He succeeded as the 7th Viscount at the death of his 2nd cousin Lucas Dillon, 6th Viscount. |
| 34–35 | 1685, 6 Feb | Accession of King James II, succeeding King Charles II |
| 37–38 | 1688 | Raised Dillon's Regiment for James II. |
| 38–39 | 1689, 13 Feb | Accession of William and Mary, succeeding King James II |
| 40–41 | 1691, 11 May | Attainted by the Williamites. |
| 40–41 | 1691, 12 Jul | Killed in action at the Battle of Aughrim. |