Dillon, John

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Dillon, John (1851–1927). Irish nationalist. Dillon's father, a lawyer, had been active in the 1848 rising and subsequently served in Parliament. Dillon was born at Blackrock (Co. Dublin) and educated at the Catholic University. He took a degree in medicine and entered politics as a supporter of John Mitchel in 1875. In 1880 he was returned to Parliament and served until 1918. He took a prominent part in the Irish Land League campaign and was gaoled for a year until the Kilmainham treaty. In 1888 he served another prison sentence and a third in 1891. After the Parnell split he joined the anti-Parnell group, becoming leader when Justin McCarthy resigned in 1896. Four years later he gave way to Redmond as leader of the reunited party and represented it at the Buckingham palace conference in 1914. On the death of Redmond in February 1918 Dillon took over the parliamentary leadership, but lost his seat at the general election in December 1918 to de Valera. He was a man of striking appearance and considerable eloquence.

J. A. Cannon

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John Forrest Dillon

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