Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 2).djvu/198

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178
DILLER
DILLON

eth, and to consider whiit con\inodity may be raised in those parts." He published several political works. — His son, Edward, governor of Virginia, b. in England in 1G20; d. in Virginia, 15 March, 1675. introduced the culture of the silk-worm into Virginia, giving attention to it at Denbigh, on James river, and at Bellfield, eight miles from Williamsburgh, and employing two native Arme- nians skilled in the business. He was given a seat in the council in November, 1044, " having given a signal testimony of his fidelity to this colony and commonwealth of England." Pie was elected gov- ernor by the assembly in March, 1655, and received a salary of 25,000 pounds of tobacco, with the duties levied on vessels, and marriage-license fees. In the latter part of the year he gave up his office, and was sent as one of the colony's agents to Eng- land to treat with prominent merchants about the price of tobacco, and also to secure the rights of the colony. He bore a letter to Cromwell from the assembly, and, by his social position, did much to settle the long-pending controversy between the colony and Lord Baltimore. — Another son, Dud- ley, b. about 1612 : d. in 1643, published a treatise on " Illegality of Subjects taking up Arms against their Sovereigns" (1643).


DILLER, Joseph Silas, geologist, b. in Plain- field, Pa., 27 Aug., 1850. He was graduated at Lawrence scientiiic scliool of Harvard in 1879, and spent two years in post-graduate studies at Har- vard and at the university in Gottingen. From 1873 till 1877 he taught in "the State normal school in Westfield, Mass., and from 1881 till 1883 was geologist of the Assos expedition. In 1883 he be- came assistant geologist on the U. S. geological survey, and in that capacity has travelled exten- sively throughout the United States. He is a member of several scientific societies, and author of numerous papers that have been published in scientific journals in the United States and in Europe, the principal of which are " Notes on the Geology of the Troad " (1883) ; " Diamonds in the United States " (1886) ; and " Notes on the Geol- ogy of Northern California" (1886).


DILLON, Arthur, Count, French soldier, b. in Braywick, Ireland, 3 Sept., 1750; d. in Paris, 16 April, 1794. He was colonel of the Dillon regi- ment of the Irish brigade. When the court of Versailles concluded a treaty with the United States in 1778, his regiment was one of those ob- taining the privilege of being the first to fight the English. Count Dillon embarked at Brest, in the squadron of La Motte Picquet, with the first bat- talion of his regiment, for the West Indies, on 5 April, 1779. The junction of Picquet and D'Estaing enabled the latter to carry out his design of con- quering the island of Grenada from the English. An attack was made on the British, after landing, in which Count Dillon distinguished himself at the head of his column, and was wounded, but did not withdraw until after the action. The French were successful. Count Dillon also took a prominent part in the capture of St. Eustache, Tobago, and St. Christopher, and was appointed governor of the latter in 1782. He drew up a code of laws for the government of the island so excellent that the English, on recovering possession, did not interfere with them. When he appeared at a levee of George III., the lord chancellor said to him : " Count Dillon, we knew you to be a brave and able soldier, but we were not aware that you were so good a lawyer. We have investigated and confirmed all your judg- ments and all your decrees delivered during your government." The count was elected deputy from Martinique to the states-general in 1789. He de- fended the interests of the colonists, although he opposed the freedom of the slaves as inopportune. He was chosen commander of a division in 1792, and fought successfully on the plains of Champagne and in the forests of Argone, but was accused of negotiating with the enemy. He justified himself, and gained an imi)ortant advantage over the Prussians. He was arrested and condemned in 1794. At the foot of the scaffold he cried with a firm voice. "Vive le I'oi!" He wrote " Compte rendu au ministre de la guerre, suivi de pieces justificatives, et contenant des documents militaires dont la connaissance est necessaire pour apprecier la partie la plus interessante de la memorable campagne de 1793." He wrote also :" Expositions des principaux evenements qui ont en le plus d'influence sur la revolution française " (1792).


DILLON, Charles, actor, b. in England; d. in Harwich, England, 24 June, 1881. Both his parents were prominent actors. In his fourteenth year he was engaged at a London minor theatre as stage-manager and to act juvenile characters. In this place he remained two years. His next en- gagement was at the Surrey theatre under Davage, where he appeared in small parts and in the ballet. After this he left the stage for a time and wrote several melodramas and magazine articles. He returned to the stage and made a tour of the prov- inces, going to London and appearing at the City of London theatre as Hamlet. His next engagement was with Mr. Douglas at the Marylebone theatre, where he was stage-manager, leading man, and dramatist. At this period of his life he made a resolution that he would leave London and not re- turn to it until he had "starred" in every town and city of importance in Great Britain. This resolve seems to have been kept. During his absence from London he was for a season manager of the Shef- field theatre. He returned to London in 1856 and made his first appearance at Sadler's Wells theatre, and afterward took the Lyceum theatre, where he revived " Belphegor." in which character he had become quite famous. At first he met with great success, as the theatre was crowded nightly. After a time, being compelled to close the theatre for lack of patronage, he travelled again through the provinces. In 1860 Mr. Dillon again appeared in London at Drury Lane, the St. James, Sadler's Wells, Marylebone, and Standard theatres. In 1861 he came to the United States and opened at the Winter Garden, New York, 24 Jan., as Belphegor, and then "starred" through the country until 1863, when he went to Australia. He returned here in 1866 and opened at Niblo's Garden, and again went on a tour of the country. He re-appeared in London, England, at Sadler's Wells theatre, 17 Feb., 1868, as King Lear. He then acted at Drury Lane theatre, when Byron's " Manfred" was revived. He re-appeared at Drury Lane theatre, 28 Sept., 1878, acting Leontes in " A Winter's Tale." After this engagement he acted only in the provinces. Mr. Dillon was an excel- lent actor, but was considered much better in melodrama than in tragedy.


DILLON, John Blake, b. in Mayo, Ireland, in 1814 ; d. in Killiney, Ireland, in 1866. He studied for the priesthood in the Royal college of Maynooth, and for the law at Trinity college, Dublin, where he made the acquaintance of the young men that afterward formed the Young Ireland party. He was a member and auditor of the Historical society. In 1842 he was called to the bar, and shortly afterward took part in establishing the " Nation " newspaper. He was opposed to an insurrection, but felt bound in honor to follow Smith