Charles Dillon, 12th Viscount Dillon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Charles Dillon
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| Viscount Dillon | |
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Detail from the portrait below
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| Tenure | 1787–1813 |
| Predecessor | Henry Dillon, 11th Viscount Dillon |
| Successor | Henry Dillon, 13th Viscount Dillon |
| Born | 6 November 1745 London |
| Died | 9 November 1813 Loughglynn, Ireland |
| Spouse(s) |
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| Issue Detail |
Henry, & others |
| Father | Henry Dillon, 11th Viscount Dillon |
| Mother | Charlotte Lee |
Charles Dillon-Lee, 12th Viscount Dillon (1745–1813) was an important person in Irish and British history. He became a Viscount, which is a noble title, and inherited a large estate in England. He was also a member of the Privy Council of Ireland, which advised the King.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Charles was born in London on November 6, 1745. His father was Henry Dillon, 11th Viscount Dillon, who held the title before him. His mother was Charlotte Lee. She was the oldest daughter of a noble family.
Charles had six brothers and sisters. Two of his younger brothers, Arthur and Henry, became colonels in a French army regiment.
Important Changes in His Life
In 1766, the Pope, who is the leader of the Catholic Church, decided to stop supporting the Jacobites. The Jacobites wanted to put a different royal family on the throne of England. After this, the Pope recognized the House of Hanover as the true rulers.
Because of this change, Charles decided to join the Anglican church in 1767. This was a big step for his family, as they had been Catholic for a long time. In the same year, he was also chosen to be a member of the Royal Society, a group for important scientists.
When he was young, Charles enjoyed horse racing and gambling. He ended up owing a lot of money. To avoid his debtors, he moved to Brussels for a while.
In 1770, Charles was elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) for the Westbury Borough area in England. This meant he helped make laws for the country.
In 1776, Charles added "Lee" to his last name, becoming Dillon-Lee. He did this because of his mother's uncle, George Lee, 3rd Earl of Lichfield. His uncle's will said that Charles had to change his name to inherit some family property.
His Marriages and Children
Charles married twice. His first wife was Henrietta-Maria Phipps. They married in Brussels on August 19, 1776. Henrietta-Maria was related to King James II, but not through his official marriage.
Charles and Henrietta-Maria had two children:
- Henry Augustus Dillon-Lee (1777–1832): He became the 13th Viscount Dillon after his father.
- Frances Charlotte Dillon-Lee (1780–1819): She married a man named Thomas Webb.
Henrietta-Maria died in 1782. Charles then married his second wife, Marie Rogier, in 1787. She was an actress from Mechelen.
Charles and Marie had at least three children:
- James William Dillon-Lee (1792–1812): He passed away young and did not marry.
- Henrietta Dillon-Lee (died 1811): She also passed away young and did not marry.
- Charlotte Dillon-Lee (died 1866): She married Lord Frederick Beauclerk in 1813. He was a famous cricketer.
Inheriting Estates and Titles
In 1776, Charles's mother inherited a large estate called Lichfield. This happened when her uncle, Robert Lee, 4th Earl of Lichfield, passed away without children. Since Charles's mother was the oldest niece, she received the estate.
In 1787, Charles's father passed away. Charles then became the 12th Viscount Dillon. The Irish House of Lords officially confirmed his title in 1788. In 1798, he was made a Knight of the Order of St. Patrick, which is a special honor.
In 1794, Charles inherited the Lichfield estate from his mother. A grand house called Ditchley became the main home for the Viscounts Dillon. The family owned Ditchley until 1934.
Charles supported the Acts of Union 1800. These laws joined the Kingdom of Great Britain and the Kingdom of Ireland to form the United Kingdom.
In 1802, Lord Dillon sold some land called Quarendon. This land had been part of the Lee family's property. In 1806, he even raised his own army regiment. This regiment was called the 101st Regular and was made up of people from his lands in Ireland.
His Final Years
Lord Dillon passed away at Loughglinn, Ireland, on November 9, 1813. Even though he had changed his religion, he was buried in his family's vault in a Catholic cemetery in Ballyhaunis, Ireland. His wife, Marie, passed away in London in 1833.
His only son, Henry Augustus, became the 13th Viscount Dillon after him.
Timeline of Key Events
- 1745: Charles Dillon-Lee was born in London.
- 1767: He changed his religion to the established church.
- 1776: He married Henrietta-Maria Phipps. His mother also inherited the Lichfield estate.
- 1782: His first wife passed away.
- 1787: He married Marie Rogier. He also became the 12th Viscount Dillon after his father's death.
- 1794: He inherited the Lichfield estate from his mother.
- 1813: Lord Dillon passed away in Loughglinn, Ireland.
