M. J. R. Dillon - 12th & last Earl of Roscommon.

(1798 - 1850)

The Dillon family, originally from Leinster, later resident in South Roscommon and finally settled in north-west Roscommon and Mayo, were given the title Earl of Roscommon in 1622. Possibly the most famous of the family was the 4th. Earl, Wentworth Dillon, who was a noted poet. When Patrick, the 11th. Earl, died in 1816 there was a problem with the succession and it took Michael James Robert Dillon over 10 years to convince the House of Lords that he was entitled to the honour.

In 1823 a 30 page Houses of Parliament report was produced concerning the Earl's claim. Titled "Minutes of Evidence Taken Before Committee for Privileges to Whom the Petition of the Earl of Roscommon & Baron of Kilkenny West, Claiming a Right to Vote at the Election of Representative Peers for Ireland, & Also the Counter Petition of Francis Stephen Dillon of Kye in the County of Roscommon, Esquires were Referred", (below right), it names the rival claim to the title. Francis Stephen Dillon was unsuccessful in his appeal and in 1828 Michael's claim was approved. The new Earl had no family however and when he died in 1850 the title finally became extinct.

The Earls of Roscommon were:

• James Dillon, 1st Earl (died March 1642).

• Robert Dillon, 2nd Earl (died 27 August 1642).

• James Dillon, 3rd Earl (c.1605–1649).

• Wentworth Dillon, 4th Earl (c.1630–1685).

• Carey Dillon, 5th Earl (1627–1689).

• Robert Dillon, 6th Earl (died 1715).

• Robert Dillon, 7th Earl (died 1721).

• James Dillon, 8th Earl (1702–1746).

• Robert Dillon, 9th Earl (died 1770).

• John Dillon, 10th Earl (died 1782).

• Patrick Dillon, 11th Earl (1769–1816).

• Michael James Robert Dillon, 12th Earl (1798–1850).

Michael James Robert Dillon, 12th Earl of Roscommon (1798 – 1850) was the last Earl. He married Charlotte Talbot (born circa 1800) the daughter of John Joseph Talbot and Susan Harriet Anne Bedingfeld. In 1828 Michael Dillon, who was a descendant of the first Earl of Roscommon, established his title to the Earldom before the House of Lords. The title had previously become extinct on the death of the 11th Earl in 1816. Charlotte died on 21 November 1843 and on his death on 15 May 1850 at age 51 the earldom finally became extinct.

This interesting letter from the Earl of Roscommon to Bernard Collier Esqr. of 22 Upper Ormond Quay, Dublin, dated 14 February 1825, was sent from Birmingham Barracks on 12th. The letter mentions the fact that the Earl was involved in a Court Marshall, and therefore the delay. The main letter (centre pages below) appear to be concerned with the Earls attempt to have his right to the title vindicated (he succeeded in 1828) and mentions various witnesses and also the death of his father. The second, shorter, letter (below right) concerns the rent of his property in Drury Lane, Dublin. This second letter is written on the back of the address page (below left) and appears to be a copy of a letter, sent for Bernard Collier's information.

The signature of the Earl of Roscommon from the 1825 letter. Michael Dillon was obviously using the title, even though it would be another two years before his right to it was vindicated by the House of Lords.

Images not to scale.

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