Dillon, JOHN

Dillon, JOHN, the son of John Blake Dillon (1816-66), who was a prominent member of the Young Ireland party, and member for County Tipperary in 1865-66. Born in New York in 1851, he was educated at the Catholic University of Dublin, after which he became a doctor. He early identified himself with the Parnellite movement, and in 1880 was returned for County Tipperary. In the House of Commons Dillon soon became prominent for the violence of his language, while speeches delivered by him in Ireland led to his imprisonment in 1881, 1881-82, and 1888. From 1883 to 1885 he was absent from political life on account of ill-health; but in the latter year he reappeared, and was elected for East Mayo. 'Honest John Dillon' was one of the most prominent promoters of the 'Plan of Campaign.' In 1896-99 he was Justin McCarthy's successor as chairman of the main section of the Nationalists.