John Henry Dillon
1819 – 1877
Relationship with the Hatfield and St Albans Railway Company:
- The Minute Book records that he was one of the seven who attended the second Board meeting, on Friday 17th April 1863, the first time all seven sat together.
- His last Board meeting was that of 22nd June 1866, although he remained a Board member for some while after that.
Life Highlights:
- Born on 18th January 1819, in Southampton Row, Marylebone (Paddington), Middlesex, of John Dillon and Mary (nee Wooley).
- Remained a bachelor.
- Died on 16th November 1877, at K 5, the Albany, Piccadilly, Middlesex.
- Administration granted on 24th December 1877: effects under £4,000.
- Death reported in the company’s Minutes of 4th February 1882.
- Was one of a committee formed to relieve the destitute following a serious fire in St Johns, Newfoundland (1846).
- Was on board Brunel’s “Great Eastern” when it had its accident (September 1859).
- He was joint Hon. Secretary of the Harrison Memorial Fund (to support the widow and family of Captain William Harrison (of Brunel’s Great Eastern)) (February 1860).
- Among his Directorships were:
- The London and Paris Joint Stock Bank (c1855).
- The Universal Marine Insurance Company (1859).
- The Paris Land Company (Limited) (c1861) (Trustee and Director).
- The Universal Private Telegraph Company (c1861) (Deputy-Chairman).
- The Andover and Redbridge Railway (until 1862).
- The Hatfield and St Albans Railway (1862).
- The London and South of Ireland Direct Telegraph Company (Limited) (c1862).
- The Landowners, Lessees and Occupiers’ Protection Association (Limited), (for the adjustment of claims of landowners etc.) (Chairman) (c1864).
- The Financial Corporation (Limited), (inviting subscriptions for the Shireoaks Colliery Company (Limited)) (c1864).
- The Keldside Mining Company (Limited) (c1865).
- The Watford and Rickmansworth Railway.
- With others applied to the Dean of Westminster to erect, in Westminster Abbey, a memorial to William Makepeace Thakeray.
- Emigrated, address unknown, according to The Times of 2nd September 1905.
Homes included:
- Southampton Row, Marylebone, Middlesex (at birth).
- Hoxton Square, St Leonards, Shoreditch, Middlesex (at brother’s birth, 1821).
- Frognall House, St Johns, Hampstead.
- K 5, the Albany, Piccadilly, Middlesex (as these are described as “chambers”, could this be a business address? He died here!)(1851-77). (46 Piccadilly & 5 Burlington Gardens.)
- 46 Philip Street, Kingsland Road (lived at his father’s house?) (1858-64).
- 3 Figtree Court, Temple (business?) (1856).
He, his parents, 2 brothers and others are at Frognall House, St Johns, Hampstead, Middlesex, in the 1841 census: Barrister. He (unmarried) and 1 servant are at 5K Albany, Piccadilly, in the 1861 census: Barrister. He (unmarried) and 2 servants (married couple) are at 5K Albany, Piccadilly, in the 1871 census: Barrister not in practice.
Information gathered from:
- The Hatfield & St Albans Railway Company Minute Book.
- Census returns.
- Wills Index.
- The Times Digital Archive.
- Non-Conformist & Non-Parochial Registers, 1567-1970.
- London Electoral Registers 1832 – 1965.
- U.K. City and County Directories, 1600s – 1900s.