Theobald Dillon, 7th Viscount Dillon

Theobald was probably born at Loughglynn, his parents' habitual residence. He was a son of Robert Dillon and his wife Rose Dillon. His father, Captain Robert Dillon of Loughglynn,^[1] was a member of the landed gentry. He was son and heir of Lucas Dillon of Loughglynn, who had been the second son of Theobald Dillon, 1st Viscount Dillon.^[2] At the time of Theobald's birth, the Dillons of Loughglynn were a cadet branch of the Viscounts Dillon. Theobald's mother was a daughter of John Dillon of Streamstown.^[3]

Theobald appears as the elder of two brothers:

1. Theobald (died 1691)
2. Lucas, died unmarried^[4]

His sisters were:

1. Alice or Elizabeth, married James Ferrall^[5]
2. Jane, married Lally^[6]
3. Mary, married a Dillon of Sinogweny^[7]

Theobald Dillon married Mary, daughter of Sir Henry Talbot of Templeogue, County Dublin, and of Mount Talbot in County Roscommon, a brother-in-law of Richard Talbot, 1st Earl of Tyrconnell. Theobald and Mary mainly lived at Kilmore, County Roscommon.^[9]

Theobald and Mary had six sons:

1. Robert, predeceased his father and died unmarried^[10]
2. Henry (died 1714), became the 8th Viscount Dillon^[11]
3. Arthur (1670–1733), became a general in French service^[12][13]
4. Christopher, captain in the Dillon regiment, died unmarried^[14]
5. James, in the Dillon regiment, died unmarried^[15]
6. Lucas, in the Dillon regiment, died unmarried^[16]

—and two daughters:

1. Jane, married Sir John Burke, Baronet of Mitford^[17]
2. Bridget^[18]

In the 1680s Dillon was lieutenant-colonel in Clanricarde's Regiment of Guards of the Irish Army.^[19]

In 1683 Lucas Dillon, 6th Viscount Dillon, died childless at Kilfaughny, County Westmeath, despite having married twice.^[20] He was the last of the senior branch descended from Christopher Dillon of Ballylaghan. Theobald, his second cousin, was the next heir male of the 1st Viscount. Theobald inherited the title and the estate, becoming the 7th Viscount Dillon.

In 1688 Lord Dillon, as he now was, raised two regiments of foot for James II, one commanded by his eldest son, Henry Dillon, the other by his second son, Arthur Dillon.^[21] Both fought in the Williamite war in Ireland, but the second, Arthur Dillon's was sent to France with the Irish Brigade in April 1690 in exchange against the Lauzon's French Expeditionary Force.^[22]

Lord Dillon was a Roman Catholic member in the Irish House of Lords of the Patriot Parliament of 1689. On 11 May 1691 he was attainted.^[23]

Lord Dillon fell at the Battle of Aughrim on 12 July 1691.^[24] His widow was killed accidentally by the explosion of a bomb during the Siege of Limerick on 7 September 1691.^[25] As he had been attainted, his title and his lands were forfeit. However, in 1694 his son Henry managed to obtain a reversal of the attainder and succeeded to title and lands.^[26]