Robert Dillon, 3rd Baron Clonbrock

Robert Dillon, 3rd Baron Clonbrock (29 March 1807 – 4 December 1893), was an Irish peer and landowner. He was born in 1807 as the son of Luke Dillon, 2nd Baron Clonbrock, and the Honourable Anastasia Blake, daughter of Joseph Blake, 1st Baron Wallscourt. Dillon received education at Eton College and at Christ Church, Oxford.

In December 1826, at the age of 19, Dillon succeeded his father to the barony of Clonbrock. The title was an Irish peerage, which did not automatically grant him a seat in the House of Lords. However, he was elected as an Irish representative peer in 1838, securing a seat in the peerage of Ireland in the UK Parliament. Dillon served as Lord-Lieutenant of Galway from 1872 until 1892.

He married the Honourable Caroline Elizabeth Spencer in 1830, who was the daughter of Francis Spencer, 1st Baron Churchill. The couple had twelve children, including four sons and eight daughters. Their children included Luke Amalric Dillon (born 5 July 1832, died February 1833), and their successor as the 4th Baron Clonbrock, Luke Dillon (10 March 1834 – 12 May 1917). Other children included Hon. Robert Villiers Dillon (10 December 1838 – 19 April 1923), who married Harriet Caroline Elizabeth Gladstone in 1873; Hon. Francis William Dillon (born 20 December 1842, died 9 April 1858); Hon. Frances Letitia Dillon (died 26 September 1911); Hon. Caroline Anastasia Dillon (died 15 April 1907), who married William Dealtry CMG; Hon. Helen Isabella Dillon (died 8 November 1916); Hon. Louisa Emilia Dillon (died 23 May 1927); Hon. Georgiana Louisa Dillon (died 2 May 1892); Hon. Alice Elizabeth Dillon (died 18 December 1878); Hon. Katherine Charlotte Dillon (died 14 August 1927); and Hon. Elizabeth Octavia Dillon (died 12 January 1928). Elizabeth Octavia Dillon married Hugh Ellis-Nanney.

Lady Clonbrock, Caroline Elizabeth Spencer, died at Clonbrock Castle in December 1864, aged 59. Robert Dillon remained a widower for the remainder of his life and died in December 1893 at the age of 86. His eldest surviving son succeeded him as the 4th Baron Clonbrock.

In addition to his peerage and landowning activities, Dillon was involved in cricket. He was a member of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) and played in five first-class matches between 1832 and 1834. On scorecards, he was listed as "Lord Clonbrock." During his cricketing career, he scored a total of 13 runs with a highest score of 6.

References for this biography include historical records of Irish peerage, cricket archives, and genealogical sources.