James Dillon, 1st Earl of Roscommon

James Dillon, 1st Earl of Roscommon (died March 1642) was an Irish peer.

Roscommon was descended from a long-established Anglo-Norman family who were recorded in Ireland from about 1185, and held substantial lands in Meath, Westmeath, Longford and Roscommon. He was the son and heir of Sir Lucas Dillon, Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer, and Jane Bathe, daughter of James Bathe.^[1]

Roscommon raised a troop of 25 horse loyal to Elizabeth I at his own expense in 1599, to help keep order in County Roscommon. He was knighted by the Queen in 1600. On 24 January 1619 he was raised to the peerage with the title of Baron Dillon of Kilkenny-West, in the Peerage of Ireland.^[2] He was furthered honoured when he was made Earl of Roscommon on 5 August 1622.^[3] Roscommon was a signatory of the response to Charles I from the Lords of the Pale in 1625, which established a force of soldiers to protect The Crown's interests in Ireland.^[4] In 1627, he was a Commissioner for raising money for the King's Army in Meath, Westmeath and Longford.

He married Eleanor Barnewall, the second daughter of Sir Christopher Barnewall of Turvey, Dublin and his wife Marion Sherle, and had at least nine children. He was succeeded in his titles by his eldest son, Robert.^[5]

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