View source for Robert Dillon, 2nd Earl of Roscommon

{{Short description|Irish earl (died 1642)}}
{{Other people|Robert Dillon}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Infobox noble
| name        = Robert Dillon
| title       = [[Earl of Roscommon]]
| tenure      = 1641–1642
| predecessor = [[James Dillon, 1st Earl of Roscommon|James, 1st Earl of Roscommon]]
| successor   = [[James Dillon, 3rd Earl of Roscommon|James, 3rd Earl of Roscommon]]
| spouse      = {{Unbulleted list <!-- WP:NOBR -->
| '''1.''' Margaret Barry
| '''2.''' [[Dorothy Hastings]]
| '''3.''' Anne Strode
}}
| issue       = [[James Dillon, 3rd Earl of Roscommon|James]], Lucas, David; Henry; [[Carey Dillon, 5th Earl of Roscommon|Carey]]
| issue-link  = #chldrn
| father      = [[James Dillon, 1st Earl of Roscommon|James, 1st Earl of Roscommon]]
| mother      = Eleanor (also called Helen) Barnewall
| birth_date  = unknown, estimated 1585
| death_date  = 27 August 1642
| death_place = Dublin
}}
'''Robert Dillon, 2nd Earl of Roscommon''' <small>[[Privy Council of Ireland|PC (Ire)]]</small> (died 1642) was styled '''Baron Dillon of Kilkenny-West''' from 1622 to 1641 and succeeded his father only a year before his own death. He supported [[Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford|Strafford]], Lord Deputy of Ireland, who appointed him keeper of the [[Great Seal of Ireland|great seal]]. Dillon was in December 1640 for a short while a [[Lord Justices (Ireland)|lord justice]] of Ireland together with [[Sir William Parsons, 1st Baronet of Bellamont|Sir William Parsons]].
{{Chart top|width=auto|collapsed=no|align=right|clear=right|Family tree}}
{{Tree chart/start|style=clear: both; font-size: 90%; width: 31em;}}
{{Tree chart|Txt|Txt=Robert Dillon with two of his three wives, his parents, and other selected relatives.{{Efn|This family tree is partly derived from the Roscommon pedigree in Cokayne.{{Sfn|Cokayne|1895|p=[https://archive.org/details/completepeerage06cokahrish/page/n415/ 414]}} Also see the list of children in the text.}}|boxstyle_Txt=border: 0 solid white; padding-bottom 1em; text-align: left;}}
{{Tree chart/end}}
{{Tree chart/start}}
{{Tree chart| | |Lucas|y|JaneB|boxstyle=border-width: 1px; border-radius: 0.5em;
|Lucas=[[Lucas Dillon (judge)|'''Lucas<br />Dillon''']]<br />c. 1530 – 1593<br />[[Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer|Chief Baron]]
|JaneB='''Jane<br />Bathe'''}}
{{Tree chart| | | | | |!}}
{{Tree chart|DvdB5| |JmsR1|y|HlnBw|boxstyle=border-width: 1px; border-radius: 0.5em;
|DvdB5=[[David de Barry, 5th Viscount Buttevant|David Barry<br />'''5th Viscount<br />Buttevant''']]<br />c. 1550 – 1617|boxstyle_DvdB5=border-width: 1px; border-radius: 0.5em; background: wheat;
|JmsR1=[[James Dillon, 1st Earl of Roscommon|James<br />'''1st Earl<br />Roscommon''']]<br />d. 1641|boxstyle_JmsR1=border-width: 1px; border-radius: 0.5em; background: lavender;
|HlnBw='''Eleanor<br />Barnewall'''<br />d. 1628}}
{{Tree chart| |`|.| | | |,|'}}
{{Tree chart| |MgtBy|y|Sbjct|y|AnnSt|boxstyle=border-width: 1px; border-radius: 0.5em;
|MgtBy='''Margaret<br />Barry'''
|Sbjct=Robert<br />'''2nd Earl'''<br />d. 1642|boxstyle_Sbjct=border: 2px solid red; border-radius: 0.5em; background: lavender;
|AnnSt='''Ann<br />Strode'''
|JneDl='''Jane<br />Dillon'''<br />m. 1604
|ChrsD='''Christopher<br />Dillon of<br />Ballylaghan'''<br />d. 1624}}
{{Tree chart| |,|-|-|'| | | |`|.}}
{{Tree chart|JmsR3|y|ElzWw| |CarR5|y|KthWd|boxstyle=border-width: 1px; border-radius: 0.5em;
|JmsR3=[[James Dillon, 3rd Earl of Roscommon|James]]<br />'''3rd Earl'''<br />c. 1605 – 1649|boxstyle_JmsR3=border-width: 1px; border-radius: 0.5em; background: lavender;
|ElzWw='''Elizabeth<br />Wentworth'''
|CarR5=[[Carey Dillon, 5th Earl of Roscommon|Carey]]<br />'''5th Earl'''<br />1627–1689|boxstyle_CarR5=border-width: 1px; border-radius: 0.5em; background: lavender;
|KthWd='''Katherine<br />Werden'''}}
{{Tree chart| | | |!| | | | | |,|-|'| | | }}
{{Tree chart| | |WtwR4| | | |RbtR6|y|MgtPu|boxstyle=border-width: 1px; border-radius: 0.5em;
|WtwR4=[[Wentworth Dillon, 4th Earl of Roscommon|Wentworth]]<br />'''4th Earl'''<br />1637–1685|boxstyle_WtwR4=border-width: 1px; border-radius: 0.5em; background: lavender;
|RbtR6=Robert<br />'''6th Earl'''<br />d. 1715|boxstyle_RbtR6=border-width: 1px; border-radius: 0.5em; background: lavender;
|MgtPu='''Margaret<br />Putt'''}}
{{Tree chart/end}}
{{Tree chart/start|style=clear: both;}}
{{Tree chart|Leg|Leg='''Legend'''|boxstyle_Leg=border: 0 solid white;}}
{{Tree chart/end}}
{{Tree chart/start|style=clear: both;}}
{{Tree chart|SbjBx|SbjTx| |Bk1Bx|Bk1Tx| |Bk2Bx|Bk2Tx
|SbjBx=XXX|boxstyle_SbjBx=border: 2px solid red; border-radius: 0.5em; color: white;
|SbjTx=Robert<br />Dillon|boxstyle_SbjTx=border: 0 solid white; text-align: left;
|Bk1Bx=XXX|boxstyle_Bk1Bx=background: lavender; border-radius: 0.5em; border-width: 1px; color: lavender;
|Bk1Tx=[[Earl of Roscommon|Earls of<br />Roscommon]]|boxstyle_Bk1Tx=border: 0 solid white; text-align: left;
|Bk2Bx=XXX|boxstyle_Bk2Bx=background: wheat; border-radius: 0.5em; border-width: 1px; color: wheat;
|Bk2Tx=[[Viscount Buttevant|Viscounts<br />Buttevant]]|boxstyle_Bk2Tx=border: 0 solid white; text-align: left;}}
{{Tree chart/end}}
{{Chart_bottom}}
== Birth and origins ==
Robert was born in Ireland, the eldest son of [[James Dillon, 1st Earl of Roscommon|James Dillon]] and his wife Eleanor Barnewall.{{Sfn|Burke|1832b|p=[https://archive.org/details/ageneralandhera00burkgoog/page/n375/ 366, right column, line 42]|ps=. "His lordship [James, 1st earl] m. [married] Elinor, daughter of Sir Christopher Barnewall, knt, of Turvey&nbsp;.."}} His father would in 1622 become the 1st Earl of Roscommon. His family was [[Normans in Ireland|Old English]] and descended from Sir Henry Dillon who came to Ireland with [[John, King of England|Prince John]] in 1185.{{Sfn|Webb|1878|p=[https://archive.org/details/acompendiumiris00webbgoog/page/n157/ 149, line 7]|ps=. "... [Sir Henry Dillon] came to Ireland in 1185 as secretary to Prince John&nbsp;..."}} His family held substantial lands in [[County Meath|Meath]], [[County Westmeath|Westmeath]], [[County Longford|Longford]] and [[County Roscommon|Roscommon]].
Robert's mother, who was also called Helen instead of Eleanor,{{Sfn|Cokayne|1895|p=[https://archive.org/details/completepeerage06cokahrish/page/n412/ 411, line 1]|ps=. "He [James D. 1st Earl] m. Helen, 2d da. of Sir Christopher Barnewall of Turvey, co. Dublin, by Marion da. of Patrick Challis, otherwise Serle, of Shallon, co. Meath."}} was a daughter of [[Christopher Barnewall]] of [[Turvey House, County Dublin]]. Like his father's, her family was Old English.
Robert was one of 13 siblings,{{Sfn|Debrett|1828|p=[https://archive.org/details/debrettspeerage01debrgoog/page/n225/ 647, line 23]|ps=. "... d. 1641, leaving issue 7 sons;"}}{{Sfn|Burke|1832b|p=[https://archive.org/details/ageneralandhera00burkgoog/page/n375/ 366, right column, line 43]|ps=. "... and had (with 6 daughters)&nbsp;.."}} [[James Dillon, 1st Earl of Roscommon#chldrn|who are listed on his father's article]].
== First marriage ==
In about 1600 Dillon married Margaret Barry. She was the sixth daughter of [[David de Barry, 5th Viscount Buttevant]],{{Sfn|Burke|1883|p=[https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015088438141&view=1up&seq=49 25, left column, line 50]|ps=. "Margaret, m. [married] to Robert, Earl of Roscommon."}}{{Efn|Cokayne (1895) in error states that Margaret was a sister of [[David Barry, 1st Earl of Barrymore]].{{Sfn|Cokayne|1895|p=[https://archive.org/details/completepeerage06cokahrish/page/n412/ 411, line 11]|ps=. "He m. firstly Margaret, sister of David, 1st Earl of Barrymore [sic], da. of David (Barry), Viscount Buttevant [I. [Ireland]&thinsp;] by his first wife Ellen, da. of David (Roche)&nbsp;..."}}}} His wife's family, the [[de Barry family|de Barrys]], were Old English like his own.
{{Anchor|chldrn}} <!-- Referenced by the infobox issue-link -->
Robert and Margaret had three sons:
# [[James Dillon, 3rd Earl of Roscommon|James]] ({{Circa|1605}} – 1649), succeeded as the 3rd Earl Roscommon{{Sfn|Cokayne|1895|p=[https://archive.org/details/completepeerage06cokahrish/page/n412/ 411, line 19]|ps=. "[James] s. [son] and h. [heir] by his 1st wife, b. [born] about 1605;"}}
# Lucas, died childless{{Sfn|Burke|1832b|p=[https://archive.org/details/ageneralandhera00burkgoog/page/n376/ 367, left column, line 30]|ps=. "His Lordship [the 2nd Earl] m. [married] first Margaret, daughter of David Earl of Barrymore, by whom he had James, Lord Dillon, and another son Lucas who d.s.p. [died without issue]"}}
# David, died an infant
== Second marriage ==
About 1610, Dillon married secondly [[Dorothy Hastings|Dorothy]], a Protestant, the fourth daughter of [[George Hastings, 4th Earl of Huntingdon]], an English noble, widow of Sir James Stewart (died 1609), who was a son of [[Walter Stewart, 1st Lord Blantyre]], a Scottish noble.{{Sfn|Cokayne|1895|p=[https://archive.org/details/completepeerage06cokahrish/page/n412/ 411, line 13]|ps=. "He m. [married] secondly, soon after 1609 Dorothy widow of James Stuart, K.B., Master of Blantyre, da. [daughter] of George (Hastings), 4th Earl of Huntingdon, by Dorothy, da. of Sir John Fort."}}{{Sfn|Clavin|2009|loc=paragraph 5|ps=. "He married secondly (c.1610) Dorothy, daughter of the 4th earl of Huntingdon and widow of Sir George Wharton;"}}{{Sfn|Paul|1905|pp=[https://archive.org/details/scotspeeragefoun02paul/page/83/ 83–84]|ps=. "She [Dorothy Hastings] afterwards married, about 1609, as his second wife, Robert Dillon, 2nd Earl of Roscommon."}}
Robert and Dorothy had a son:
* Henry (died 1640), never married{{Sfn|Burke|1832b|p=[https://archive.org/details/ageneralandhera00burkgoog/page/n376/ 367, left column, line 33]|ps=. "The Earl m. [married] secondly Lady Dorothy Hastings, youngest daughter of George, fourth Earl of Huntingdon and widow of Sir James Steuart, by whom he had Henry, who d. unmarried;"}}
== Advancements ==
Dillon had been studying law in London at [[Gray's Inn]] and was called to the [[Bar (law)|bar]] in 1613.{{Sfn|Clavin|2009|loc=paragraph 1, 2nd sentence|ps=. "He graduated from Gray's Inn in 1613;"}} He was knighted on 15 February 1615 by [[James VI and I|James I]] at [[Theobalds House]], Hertfordshire.{{Sfn|Shaw|1906|p=[https://archive.org/details/knightsofengland02shawuoft/page/n184/ 75, line 10]|ps=. "1614-5, Feb. 15. Robert Dillon McCarty (by the king at Theobalds)."}}
Dillon's parents as well as his first wife were Catholics. His eldest son, [[James Dillon, 3rd Earl of Roscommon|James]], was originally raised as a Catholic. Dillon as well as his son James conformed to the established religion some time before his father's ennoblement. His father, however, remained Catholic.{{Sfn|Clavin|2009|loc=paragraph 1, 4th sentence|ps=. "By 1619 he had converted to protestantism; his conformity set him apart from most of his relatives, and the motivations behind his conversion are open to interpretation. It was largely because his heir was a protestant that Sir James was created Lord Kilkenny West in 1619 and earl of Roscommon in 1622."}}{{Sfn|Cokayne|1895|p=[https://archive.org/details/completepeerage06cokahrish/page/n412/ 411]|ps=. "He had (v.p.) [while his father was alive] conformed to the established religion&nbsp;..."]}}
On 24 January 1620 Dillon's father was raised to the peerage with the title "Baron Dillon of Kilkenny-West", in the [[Peerage of Ireland]]{{Sfn|Cokayne|1895|p=[https://archive.org/details/completepeerage06cokahrish/page/n411/ 410, line 21]|ps=. "...&nbsp;was cr. [created] 24&nbsp;Jan. 1619/20 Lord Dillon, Baron of Kilkenny-West [I. {{Bracket|Ireland}}]."}} in a ceremony performed by the [[Lord Deputy]] [[Oliver St John, 1st Viscount Grandison|Oliver St. John]] in the presence chamber of [[Dublin Castle]] on 25 January.{{Sfn|Lodge|1789|p=[https://archive.org/details/peerageofireland04lodg/page/158/ 158, line 5]|ps=. "...&nbsp;the ceremony thereof was performed by the L. D. St John in the Presence-Chamber on the 25&nbsp;..."}}
On 5&nbsp;August 1622 Dillon's father was advanced to Earl of Roscommon.{{Sfn|Cokayne|1895|p=[https://archive.org/details/completepeerage06cokahrish/page/n411/ 410, line 22]|ps=. "...&nbsp;being subsequently cr. 5&nbsp;Aug. 1622 Earl of Roscommon [I. [Ireland]]."}} This made the title "Baron Dillon of Kilkenny-West" available as [[courtesy title]] for the heir apparent. Dillon, therefore was 1622–1641 styled "Robert Lord Dillon of Kilkenny-West" or "Robert Lord Dillon" fort short.{{Sfn|Smyth|1839|p=[https://archive.org/details/chroniclelawoff00smytgoog/page/n245/ 221]|ps=. "14 Car. I.—1638 May 26 Robert Lord Dillon, Sir Adam Loftus, Christopher Wandesforde, and Sir Philip Mainwaring, Lord Keepers"}}
== Third marriage ==
Some time between 1622 and 1627 Dillon married thirdly Anne, daughter of Sir William Strode of [[Stoke sub Hamdon]], Somerset, and widow of [[Henry Folliott, 1st Baron Folliott]],{{Sfn|Burke|1883|p=[https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015088438141&view=1up&seq=243 219, right column, line 4]|ps=. "His lordship m. [married] Anne, dau. [daughter] of Sir William Strode, of Stoke-under-Hampden, in Somersetshire, and by her (who m. 2ndly Robert, Earl of Roscommon)&nbsp;..."}}{{Sfn|Cokayne|1895|p=[https://archive.org/details/completepeerage06cokahrish/page/n412/ 411, line 15]|ps=. "He m. [married] thirdly Anne, Dow. Baroness Folliett [I. {{Bracket|Ireland}}], da. [daughter] of sir William Strode, of Stoke under Hampdon, co. Somerset."}} who had died in 1622.{{Sfn|Burke|1883|p=[https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015088438141&view=1up&seq=243 219, right column, lin 34]|ps=. "His lordship d. [died] 10 November 1622, and was s. [succeeded] by his son, Thomas Folliott, 2nd Lord Folliott, governor of Londonderry&nbsp;..."}}
With Anne he had:
*[[Carey Dillon, 5th Earl of Roscommon|Carey]] (1627–1689), became the 5th Earl Roscommon{{Sfn|Burke|1832b|p=[https://archive.org/details/ageneralandhera00burkgoog/page/n376/ 367, left column, line 37]|ps=. "...&nbsp;and, thirdly, Anne, daughter of Sir William Stroud, and widow of Lord Folliot, by whom he had a son, Carey, who succeeded as fifth earl."}}
== Later life ==
Dillon was appointed a privy concillor in 1627.{{Sfn|McGrath|1997|p=142|ps=. "...&nbsp;becoming a privy councillor in 1627&nbsp;..."}} Dillon's mother died in 1628.{{Sfn|Cokayne|1895|p=[https://archive.org/details/completepeerage06cokahrish/page/n412/ 411, line 3a]|ps=. "She [Eleanor or Helen] d. 11&nbsp;Oct. 1628."}}
During the [[1st Irish Parliament of King Charles I|Irish Parliament of 1634–1635]] Dillon was elected on 5 July 1634 as one of the two MPs for [[Trim (Parliament of Ireland constituency)|Trim Borough]].{{Sfn|House of Commons|1878|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=L1ETAAAAYAAJ&pg=628 628]|ps=. "1634 / 3&nbsp;July / Robert Lord Dillon, Baron of Kilkenny West. / Moymet / ditto. [Trim Borough]"}} On 14&nbsp;July 1634, his father took his seat in the [[Irish House of Lords]].{{Sfn|Cokayne|1895|p=[https://archive.org/details/completepeerage06cokahrish/page/n411/ 410, line 23]|ps=. "He took his seat 14&nbsp;July 1634."}}
On 26&nbsp;May 1638 Dillon was appointed one of the keepers of the [[Great Seal of Ireland|great seal]].{{Sfn|Smyth|1839|p=[https://archive.org/details/chroniclelawoff00smytgoog/page/n245/ 221]|ps=. "14 Car. I.—1638 May 26 Robert Lord Dillon, Sir Adam Loftus, Christopher Wandesforde, and Sir Philip Mainwaring, Lord Keepers"}}{{Sfn|Clavin|2009|loc=paragraph 2|ps=. "...&nbsp;keeper of the great seal (1638–9)&nbsp;..."}}
Lord Deputy [[Christopher Wandesford]] died on 3&nbsp;December 1640.{{Sfn|Mahaffy|1901|p=[https://archive.org/details/cu31924091770887/page/n308 247, line 31]|ps=. "3&nbsp;Dec. Dublin / Same [Rawdon] to Same [Lord Conway and Killiltagh] / The Lord Deputy died this morning."}} On 15&nbsp;December Charles&nbsp;I appointed Lord Dillon (i.e. Lord Dillon of Kilkenny-West) together with [[Sir William Parsons, 1st Baronet of Bellamont|Sir William Parsons]] [[Lord Justices (Ireland)|Lords Justices of Ireland]],{{Sfn|Mahaffy|1901|p=[https://archive.org/details/cu31924091770887/page/n309 247, line 41]|ps=. "15&nbsp;Dec. Westminster / [Copy of] The King to the Privy Council of Ireland / ...&nbsp;We appoint Lord Dillon and Sir William Parsons&nbsp;... to be Justices here&nbsp;..."}} but Dillon was considered to have been too closely associated with [[Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford|Strafford]] and was replaced on 30&nbsp;December.{{Sfn|Mahaffy|1901|p=[https://archive.org/details/cu31924091770887/page/n310 248, line 12]|ps=. "30&nbsp; Dec. Westminster / Same to Same / ...&nbsp;Appointing Sir Borlase, Kt. instead of Lord Dillon to be Justice&nbsp;..."}}{{Sfn|Warner|1768|p=[https://archive.org/details/historyrebellio00warngoog/page/n30/ 4]|ps=. "... [Charles I] appointed Lord Dillon and Sir W. Parsons Lord Justices of that kingdom, but finding the former not agreeable to the committee and the English Parliament because of his intimacy and alliance with the Earl of Strafford, his Majesty imprudently cancelled the commission&nbsp;..."}}{{Sfn|Bagwell|1909|p=[https://archive.org/details/irelandunderstua01bagw/page/312/ 312]|ps=. "As soon as Wandesford's death was known Robert Lord Dillon and Sir William Parsons were appointed Lords Justices."}} [[John Borlase (1576–1648)|John Borlase]] was appointed as his successor on 31&nbsp;December 1640.{{Sfn|Clavin|2004|p=[https://archive.org/details/oxforddictionary06matt/page/662/ 662]|ps=. "[Borlase]&nbsp;was made a lord justice of Ireland along with Sir William Parsons on 31 December 1640."}}
During the [[2nd Irish Parliament of King Charles I|Irish Parliament of 1640–1649]] Dillon was on 13 March 1640 again elected as one of the two MPs for Trim Borough.{{Sfn|House of Commons|1878|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=L1ETAAAAYAAJ&pg=628 628, below]|ps=. "1634 / 13&nbsp;March / Robert Lord Dillon, Baron of Kilkenny West. / Moymet / ditto. [Trim Borough]"}} While he sat in the Commons, his father again sat in the Lords.
His father died in March 1641{{Sfn|Cokayne|1895|p=[https://archive.org/details/completepeerage06cokahrish/page/n412/ 411, line 3b]|ps=. "He d. March 1641."}} and Dillon succeeded as the 2nd Earl of Roscommon.{{Sfn|Burke|1832b|p=[https://archive.org/details/ageneralandhera00burkgoog/page/n376/ 367, left column, line ]|ps=. "James, first Earl of Roscommon, was s. [succeeded] by his eldest son, Robert, second earl&nbsp;..."}} He took up his seat at the Irish House of Lords on 1&nbsp;August 1641.{{Sfn|House of Lords|1779|p=179, left column|ps=. "The Earl of Roscommon brought in by the Earl of Kildare and Earl of Ormond."}} His seat in the Commons was filled by James Whyte.
== Death and timeline ==
Lord Roscommon, as he was finally now, died on 27&nbsp;August 1642 in [[Oxmantown]], a quarter of Dublin's [[Northside, Dublin|Northside]].{{Sfn|Cokayne|1895|p=[https://archive.org/details/completepeerage06cokahrish/page/n412/ 411, line 17]|ps=. "He d. [died] at Oxmantown, 27&nbsp;Aug. 1642, and was bur. [buried] 7&nbsp;Sep. in St Patricks, Dublin."}}{{Sfn|Burke|1832b|p=[https://archive.org/details/ageneralandhera00burkgoog/page/n376/ 367, left column, line 40]|ps=. "His lordship d. [died] 7th September 1642 and was succeeded by his eldest son, James, third earl"}} He was succeeded by his eldest son James as the 3rd Earl of Roscommon.
{{Clear}}
{|{{Table|hide}}
!colspan=3|Timeline
|-
!align="left"|Age!!align="left"|Date!!align="left"|Event
|-
|0||1585, estimate||Born.{{Efn|name=DoB|The estimate of 1685 for his birth is based on his eldest son's birth 'about 1605'<ref name="FOOTNOTECokayne1895[httpsarchiveorgdetailscompletepeerage06cokahrishpagen412 411, line 19]"/> assuming that he was 20 at the time.}}
|-
|{{Age|1585|24 Mar 1603}}||''1603, 24&nbsp;Mar''||''Accession of [[James VI and I|King James&nbsp;I]], succeeding [[Elizabeth I of England|Queen Elizabeth&nbsp;I]]''{{Sfn|Fryde|Greenway|Porter|Roy|1986|p=[https://archive.org/details/handbookofbritis0000unse/page/44/ 44, line 1]|ps=. "James&nbsp;I&nbsp;... acc. 24&nbsp;Mar. 1603&nbsp;..."}}
|-
|{{Age|1585|1604}}||1604||Sister Jane married Christopher Dillon of Ballylaghan, the heir apparent of [[Theobald Dillon, 1st Viscount Dillon]].{{Sfn|Burke|1832a|p=[https://archive.org/details/ageneralandhera01burkgoog/page/n422/ 367, left column, line 9]|ps=. "Christopher (Sir), of Bealalahin, in the county of Mayo, who m. in 1604, Lady Jane Dillon, eldest daughter of James, first Earl of Roscommon, and dying before his father, left seven sons and five daughters."}}
|-
|{{Age|1585|1605}}||1605, about||Birth of his eldest son, [[James Dillon, 3rd Earl of Roscommon|James]].<ref name="FOOTNOTECokayne1895[httpsarchiveorgdetailscompletepeerage06cokahrishpagen412 411, line 19]"/>
|-
|{{Age|1585|1610}}||1610, about||Married 2ndly to Dorothy Stewart, née Hastings{{Sfn|Clavin|2009|loc=paragraph 5|ps=. "He married secondly (c.1610) Dorothy, daughter of the 4th earl of Huntingdon and widow of Sir George Wharton;"}}
|-
|{{Age|1585|24 Jan 1620}}||1620, 24 Jan||Father created Baron of Kilkenny-West.<ref name="FOOTNOTECokayne1895[httpsarchiveorgdetailscompletepeerage06cokahrishpagen411 410, line 21]"/>
|-
|{{Age|1585|5 Aug 1622}}||1622, 5 Aug||Father elevated to Earl of Roscommon.<ref name="FOOTNOTECokayne1895[httpsarchiveorgdetailscompletepeerage06cokahrishpagen411 410, line 22]"/> He was styled Baron Dillon of Kilkenny-West.
|-
|{{Age|1585|27 Mar 1625}}||''1625, 27&nbsp;Mar''||''Accession of [[Charles I of England|King Charles&nbsp;I]], succeeding [[James VI and I|King James&nbsp;I]]''{{Sfn|Fryde|Greenway|Porter|Roy|1986|p=[https://archive.org/details/handbookofbritis0000unse/page/44/ 44, line 16]|ps=. "Charles&nbsp;I.&nbsp;... acc. 27&nbsp;Mar. 1625&nbsp;..."}}
|-
|{{Age|1585|11 Oct 1628}}||1628, 11 Oct||Mother died.<ref name="FOOTNOTECokayne1895[httpsarchiveorgdetailscompletepeerage06cokahrishpagen412 411, line 3a]"/>
|-
|{{Age|1585|12 Jan 1632}}||''1632, 12&nbsp;Jan''||''[[Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford|Thomas Wentworth]], later Earl of Strafford, appointed [[Lord Deputy of Ireland]]''{{Sfn|Asch|2004|p=[https://archive.org/details/isbn_019861408x/page/146/ 146, right column, line 23]|ps=. "Wentworth was appointed lord deputy on 12&nbsp;January 1632&nbsp;..."}}
|-
|{{Age|1585|14 Jul 1634}}||1634, 14 Jul||Father took his seat in the [[Irish House of Lords]].<ref name="FOOTNOTECokayne1895[httpsarchiveorgdetailscompletepeerage06cokahrishpagen411 410, line 23]"/>
|-
|{{Age|1585|26 May 1638}}||1638, 26 May||Appointed one of the Lord Keepers of the seal.<ref name="FOOTNOTESmyth1839[httpsarchiveorgdetailschroniclelawoff00smytgoogpagen245 221]"/>
|-
|{{Age|1585|15 Dec 1640}}||1640, 15 Dec||Appointed as [[Lord Justices (Ireland)|Lord Justice]] of Ireland together with [[Sir William Parsons, 1st Baronet of Bellamont|William Parsons]].<ref name="FOOTNOTEWarner1768[httpsarchiveorgdetailshistoryrebellio00warngoogpagen30 4]"/>{{Sfn|Mahaffy|1901|p=[https://archive.org/details/cu31924091770887/page/n309 247, line 41]|ps=. "15&nbsp;Dec. Westminster / [Copy of] The King to the Privy Council of Ireland / ...&nbsp;We appoint Lord Dillon and Sir William Parsons&nbsp;... to be Justices here&nbsp;..."}}
|-
|{{Age|1585|31 Dec 1640}}||1640, 31 Dec||Replaced by [[John Borlase (1576–1648)|John Borlase]] as lord justice.<ref name="FOOTNOTEClavin2004[httpsarchiveorgdetailsoxforddictionary06mattpage662 662]"/>{{Sfn|Clavin|2004|p=[https://archive.org/details/oxforddictionary06matt/page/662/ 662]|ps=. "[Borlase]&nbsp;was made a lord justice of Ireland along with Sir William Parsons on 31 December 1640."}}
|-
|{{Age|1585|Mar 1641}}||1641, Mar||Succeeded his father as the 2nd Earl of Roscommon.<ref name="FOOTNOTECokayne1895[httpsarchiveorgdetailscompletepeerage06cokahrishpagen412 411, line 3b]"/>
|-
|{{Age|1585|12 May 1641}}||''1641, 12&nbsp;May''||''[[Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford|Strafford]] beheaded''{{Sfn|Burke|1883|p=[https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015088438141&view=1up&seq=623 577, left column, line 3]|ps=: "He [Strafford] suffered death with characteristic firmness on Tower Hill, 12&nbsp;May 1641."}}
|-
|{{Age|1585|1 Aug 1641}}||1641, 1 Aug||Took his seat at the [[Irish House of Lords]]{{Sfn|House of Lords|1779|p=179, left column|ps=. "The Earl of Roscommon brought in by the Earl of Kildare and Earl of Ormond."}}
|-
|{{Age|1585|1641}}||1642, 27 Aug||Died in Oxmantown, Dublin.<ref name="FOOTNOTECokayne1895[httpsarchiveorgdetailscompletepeerage06cokahrishpagen412 411, line 17]"/>
|}
== Notes and references ==
=== Notes ===
{{Notelist}}
=== Citations ===
{{Reflist}}
=== Sources ===
{{Refbegin|30em|indent=yes}}
* {{Cite encyclopedia|last=Asch |first=Ronald G. |editor1-last=Matthew |editor1-first=Colin |editor1-link=Colin Matthew |editor2-last=Harrison |editor2-first=Brian |editor2-link=Brian Harrison (historian) |date=2004 |title=Wentworth, Thomas, first earl of Strafford (1593–1641) |encyclopedia=[[Oxford Dictionary of National Biography]] |volume=56 |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |location=New York |pages=142–157 |isbn=0-19-861408-X |url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_019861408x/page/142/ |url-access=registration}}
* {{Cite book|last=Bagwell |first=Richard |author-link=Richard Bagwell |date=1909 |title=Ireland under the Stuarts and under the Interregnum |volume=I |publisher=[[Longmans, Green, and Co.]] |location=London |oclc=458582656 |url=https://archive.org/details/irelandunderstua01bagw/}} – 1603 to 1642
* {{Cite book|last=Burke |first=John |author-link=John Burke (genealogist) |date=1832a |title=A General and Heraldic Dictionary of the Peerage and Baronetage of the British Empire |edition=4th |volume=I |publisher=[[Henry Colburn]] and [[Richard Bentley]] |location=London |oclc=39018719 |url=https://archive.org/details/ageneralandhera01burkgoog/}} – Abdy to Hutchinson (for Dillon)
* {{Cite book|last=Burke |first=John |author-link=John Burke (genealogist) |date=1832b |title=A General and Heraldic Dictionary of the Peerage and Baronetage of the British Empire |edition=4th |volume=II |publisher=[[Henry Colburn]] and [[Richard Bentley]] |location=London |oclc=39018719 |url=https://archive.org/details/ageneralandhera00burkgoog/}} – Ibbetson to Zouche (for Roscommon)
* {{Cite book|last=Burke |first=Bernard |author-link=Bernard Burke |date=1883 |title=A Genealogical History of the Dormant, Abeyant, Forfeited and Extinct Peerages of the British Empire |edition=New |publisher=Harrison |location=London |oclc=499232768 |url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015088438141}} (for Strafford and Folliott)
* {{Cite encyclopedia|last=Clavin |first=Terry |editor1-last=Matthew |editor-first=Henry Colin Gray. |editor1-link=Colin Matthew |editor2-last=Harrison |editor2-first=Brian |editor2-link=Brian Harrison (historian) |date=2004 |title=Borlase, Sir John |encyclopedia=[[Oxford Dictionary of National Biography]] |volume=6 |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |location=New York |page=662 |isbn=0-19-861356-3 |url=https://archive.org/details/oxforddictionary06matt/page/662/ |url-access=registration}}
* {{Cite web|last=Clavin |first=Terry |editor1-last=McGuire |editor1-first=James |editor2-last=Quinn |editor2-first=James |date=October 2009 |title=Dillon, Robert |website=[[Dictionary of Irish Biography]] |url=https://www.dib.ie/biography/dillon-robert-a2615 |access-date=20 January 2023}}
* {{Cite book|last=Cokayne |first=George Edward |author-link=George Edward Cokayne |date=1895 |title=Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom, Extant, Extinct, or Dormant |edition=1st |volume=VI |publisher=[[George Bell and Sons]] |location=London |oclc=1180818801 |url=https://archive.org/details/completepeerage06cokahrish/}} – N to R (for Roscommon)
* {{Cite book|author=House of Commons |date=1878 |title=Return. Members of Parliament – Part II. Parliaments of Great Britain, 1705–1796. Parliaments of the United Kingdom, 1801–1874. Parliaments and Conventions of the Estates of Scotland, 1357–1707. Parliaments of Ireland, 1599–1800. |publisher=[[His/Her Majesty's Stationery Office]] |location=London |oclc=13112546 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=L1ETAAAAYAAJ}}
* {{Cite book|last=Debrett |first=John |author-link=John Debrett |date=1828 |title=Peerage of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland |edition=17th |volume=II |publisher=F. C. and J. Rivington |location=London |oclc=54499602 |url=https://archive.org/details/debrettspeerage01debrgoog/}} – Scotland and Ireland
* {{Cite book|editor-last=Fryde |editor-first=Edmund Boleslaw |editor-link=Edmund Fryde |editor2-last=Greenway |editor2-first=D. E. |editor3-last=Porter |editor3-first=S. |editor4-last=Roy |editor4-first=I. |date=1986 |title=Handbook of British Chronology |publisher=Offices of the Royal Historical Society |edition=3rd |series=Royal Historical Society Guides and Handbooks, No. 2 |location=London |isbn=0-86193-106-8 |url=https://archive.org/details/handbookofbritis0000unse/ |url-access=registration}} – (for timeline)
* {{Cite book|author=House of Lords |date=1779 |title=Journals of the House of Lords |volume=I |publisher=William Sleater |location=Dublin |oclc=35009219 |url=https://opac.oireachtas.ie/Data/Library7/Library1/DC900086.pdf |access-date=17 January 2022}} – 1634 to 1699
* {{Cite book|last=Lodge |first=John |author-link=John Lodge (archivist) |editor-last=Archdall |editor-first=Mervyn |editor-link=Mervyn Archdall (Irish antiquary) |date=1789 |title=The Peerage of Ireland or, A Genealogical History of the Present Nobility of that Kingdom |volume=IV |publisher=James Moore |location=Dublin |oclc=264906028 |url=https://archive.org/details/peerageofireland04lodg/}} – Viscounts (for Dillon)
* {{Cite book|editor-last=Mahaffy |editor-first=Robert Pentland |date=1901 |title=Calendar of the State Papers Relating to Ireland of the Reign of Charles I. 1633–1647. Preserved in the Public Record Office. |publisher=[[His/Her Majesty's Stationery Office]] Office |location=London |url=https://archive.org/details/cu31924091770887/}}
* {{Cite thesis|last=McGrath |first=Brid |date=1997 |title=A Biographical Dictionary of the Membership of the Irish House of Commons 1640 to 1641 |type=PhD |volume=1 |chapter=Robert Dillon, Trim |publisher=[[Trinity College (Ireland)|Trinity College]] |location=Dublin |pages=141–142 |hdl=2262/77206 |chapter-url=http://www.tara.tcd.ie/handle/2262/77206/}} – Parliaments & Biographies (PDF downloadable from given URL)
* {{Cite book|last=Paul |first=Sir James Balfour |author-link=James Balfour Paul |date=1905 |title=The Scots Peerage, Founded on Wood's Edition of Sir Robert Douglas's Peerage of Scotland |volume=II |publisher=David Douglas |location=Edinburgh |oclc=505064285 |url=https://archive.org/details/scotspeeragefoun02paul/}} – Banff to Cranstoun (for Blantyre)
* {{Cite book|last=Shaw |first=William A. |date=1906 |title=The Knights of England |volume=II |publisher=Sherratt & Hughes |location=London |url=https://archive.org/details/knightsofengland02shawuoft/}} – Knights bachelors & Index
* {{Cite book|last=Smyth |first=Constantine |date=1839 |title=Chronicle of the Law Officers of Ireland |publisher=Henry Butterworth |location=London |oclc=1018312937 |url=https://archive.org/details/chroniclelawoff00smytgoog/}}
* {{Cite book|last=Warner |first=Ferdinand |date=1768 |title=History of the Rebellion and Civil-War in Ireland |volume=I |publisher=James William |location=Dublin |oclc=82770539 |url=https://archive.org/details/historyrebellio00warngoog/}} – 1641 to 1643
* {{Cite encyclopedia|last=Webb |first=Alfred |author-link=Alfred Webb |date=1878 |title=Dillon, Theobald, Viscount |encyclopedia=Compendium of Irish Biography |publisher=[[M. H. Gill & Son]] |location=Dublin |page=149 |oclc=122693688 |url=https://archive.org/details/acompendiumiris00webbgoog/page/n157/}}
{{Refend}}
<!--
== External links ==
* [http://www.thepeerage.com/p13097.htm#i130970 Genealogy of Robert Dillon 2nd Earl of Roscommon on The Peerage website]
-->
{{S-start}}
{{S-off}} <!-- Political office -->
{{S-break}}
{{S-vac|last=[[Richard Boyle, 1st Earl of Cork]]}}
{{S-ttl|title=[[Lord Justices (Ireland)|Lord Justice of Ireland]] |with=[[Sir William Parsons, 1st Baronet of Bellamont|Sir William Parsons]] |years=15 to 31 Dec 1640}}
{{S-aft|after=[[Sir Henry Tichborne]] |after2=[[John Borlase (1576–1648)|Sir John Borlase]]}}
{{S-reg|ie}} <!-- Irish regnal title -->
{{S-bef|before=[[James Dillon, 1st Earl of Roscommon|James Dillon]]}}
{{S-ttl|title=[[Earl of Roscommon]] |years=1641–1642}}
{{S-aft|after=[[James Dillon, 3rd Earl of Roscommon|James Dillon]]}}
{{S-end}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Roscommon, Robert Dillon, 2nd Earl of}}
[[Category:1642 deaths]]
[[Category:16th-century Irish people]]
[[Category:17th-century Irish people]]
[[Category:Earls of Roscommon]]
[[Category:People of Elizabethan Ireland]]
[[Category:1580s births]]