James Dillon (officer)

Sir James Dillon (c.1600 – after 1669) was an officer in the armies of the Irish Confederate Catholic during the Irish Confederate Wars (1641–53) and a Member of the Parliament of Ireland. He was likely born at Kilfaughny, Athlone and lived in the vicinity.

Dillon was a captain in Wentworth's 'new army', which was recruited in Ireland to help put down a rebellion against King Charles I in Scotland. This force was disbanded after an outcry against arming Irish Catholics in the Parliaments of England and Scotland. When it disbanded in 1641 Dillon was authorised, with his own £1,000 (2009: £120,000), to raise a regiment of the demobbed soldiers for the Spanish Army. However, this plan was interrupted by the outbreak of a Catholic rebellion in Ireland in October 1641. The brewing conflict lost him his investment and later that year he joined the revolt of his fellow Catholic gentry.

Dillon is alleged to have conspired with Lord Maguire before the rebellion; he proposed seizing Dublin Castle but according to some accounts, the Earl of Ormonde, commander-in-chief, talked him out of it. However, the claim that Dillon and Ormonde (who was a Protestant) knew of the planned rebellion in adcance has never been proved.

After the outbreak of the rebellion in 1641 Dillon joined the rebels and participated in the alternative government the Catholics set up at Kilkenny in March 1642, under the name, the Confederate Catholics of Ireland. He was appointed governor of Longford and Westmeath by the Confederate regime.

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