John Blake Dillon facts for kids
John Blake Dillon (born May 5, 1814 – died September 15, 1866) was an important Irish writer and politician. He was one of the people who helped start the Young Ireland movement.
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Who Was John Blake Dillon?
John Blake Dillon was born in a town called Ballaghaderreen. This town is on the edge of two counties, Mayo and Roscommon. His parents were Anne Blake and Luke Dillon.
His Early Life and Education
John first went to St. Patrick's College in Maynooth. He only stayed for two years because he decided he didn't want to become a priest. Later, he studied law at Trinity College in Dublin. He also studied law in London. After his studies, he became a lawyer in Ireland.
While he was at Trinity College, he met and became good friends with Thomas Davis. This friendship was very important for his future.
Starting The Nation Newspaper
John Blake Dillon worked for a newspaper called The Morning Register. There, he met Charles Gavan Duffy. Together with Thomas Davis, they started a new newspaper called The Nation in 1842.
This newspaper was created to share ideas about Irish nationalism. This meant they wanted Ireland to be a strong, independent country. All three men became key members of Daniel O'Connell's Repeal Association. This group wanted to cancel the Act of Union 1800. This Act had joined Great Britain and Ireland.
The Young Ireland Movement
The younger members of the Repeal Association became known as Young Ireland. John Blake Dillon, Thomas Davis, Charles Gavan Duffy, William Smith O'Brien, and Thomas Francis Meagher were important leaders in this group.
The Young Irelanders believed that force might be needed to achieve their goals. This was different from Daniel O'Connell's group, called "Old Ireland," who believed only in peaceful methods.
The 1848 Uprising
The differences between the groups eventually led to the Young Irelander Rebellion of 1848. This was a small uprising in 1848. At this time, Ireland was suffering greatly from the Great Famine. Many people were starving. Because of this, the people in the countryside could not support the rebels. The uprising did not succeed.
A fellow Irish nationalist, Justin McCarthy, said that John Blake Dillon did not believe an armed rebellion would work. However, when his leader, Smith O'Brien, decided to fight, Dillon stood by him.
After the uprising failed, John Blake Dillon had to leave Ireland. He first went to France and then to the United States. In America, he continued his work as a lawyer in New York.
Return to Ireland and Later Life
John Blake Dillon was able to return to Ireland in 1855. He was given a special permission to come back. In 1865, he was elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Tipperary.
By this time, his ideas had changed. He now believed that Britain and Ireland should have a Federal union. This meant they would be connected but Ireland would have more control over its own affairs. He spoke out against the violent methods used by groups like the Irish Republican Brotherhood, also known as the Fenians.
John Blake Dillon died from cholera in Killiney, County Dublin. He was 52 years old. He is buried in Glasnevin Cemetery in Dublin.
He was the father of John Dillon, who also became a famous politician. His grandson was James Dillon.
