J. J. Dalton (Irish politician)
Encyclopedia
James Joseph Dalton was an Irish nationalist Member of Parliament
(MP) for West Donegal
from 1890 to 1892.
He was of Australian birth though from an old Irish family. He was the second son of James Dalton
of Orange, New South Wales
, and of Margaret Collins. His half-sister Johanna married John Redmond
, later leader of the Irish Parliamentary Party
, in 1883, and another sister (or half-sister), Eleanor, married John Redmond’s brother Willie Redmond
, also an Irish Party MP, in 1886. J. J. Dalton was called to the Irish bar in 1888, and took part in the defence of activists during the Land War of the later 1880s. In 1892 he married Frances Delaney of Dublin.
He was elected unopposed to represent West Donegal at a by-election
in May 1890, taking his seat in the in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
. When the Irish Parliamentary Party split in December 1890 over the leadership of Charles Stewart Parnell
, he supported Parnell. In this he must have been influenced to some extent by his family relationship with John and Willie Redmond, both of whom were leading Parnellites. In the general election of 1892 he contested South Meath
as a Parnellite, obtaining 2,199 votes to the 2,212 of the Anti-Parnellite
candidate Patrick Fulham, a losing margin of only 14 votes. He contested the result through a successful petition to the courts, alleging improper interference by the Catholic clergy. A new writ was issued, but in the ensuing by-election in February 1893, Dalton again lost narrowly, obtaining 2,638 votes while the new Anti-Parnellite candidate Jeremiah Jordan
had 2,707. The course and outcome of Dalton’s challenge to the clergy in 1892 were almost identical to those experienced by his Parnellite colleague Pierce Mahony
at North Meath
.
Dalton then seems to disappear from the historical record. Ferguson (2005) records only “Went to Australia”. It appears that he must have returned to Australia and died there, his death unremarked in Ireland or Britain.
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MP) for West Donegal
West Donegal (UK Parliament constituency)
West Donegal was a UK Parliament constituency in Ireland, returning one Member of Parliament 1885–1922.Prior to the United Kingdom general election, 1885 the area was part of the Donegal constituency. From 1922 it was not represented in the UK Parliament....
from 1890 to 1892.
He was of Australian birth though from an old Irish family. He was the second son of James Dalton
James Dalton (Orange, Australia)
James Dalton was a wealthy merchant and pastoralist that lived during the 19th and 20th centuries in Orange, New South Wales, Australia...
of Orange, New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, and of Margaret Collins. His half-sister Johanna married John Redmond
John Redmond
John Edward Redmond was an Irish nationalist politician, barrister, MP in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and leader of the Irish Parliamentary Party from 1900 to 1918...
, later leader of the Irish Parliamentary Party
Irish Parliamentary Party
The Irish Parliamentary Party was formed in 1882 by Charles Stewart Parnell, the leader of the Nationalist Party, replacing the Home Rule League, as official parliamentary party for Irish nationalist Members of Parliament elected to the House of Commons at...
, in 1883, and another sister (or half-sister), Eleanor, married John Redmond’s brother Willie Redmond
William Hoey Kearney Redmond
William Hoey Kearney Redmond was an Irish nationalist politician. He was a Member of Parliament in the Irish Parliamentary Party for 34 years, a land reform agitator imprisoned three times, a determined advocate of Irish Home Rule, a barrister and a First World War fatality.-Family background:He...
, also an Irish Party MP, in 1886. J. J. Dalton was called to the Irish bar in 1888, and took part in the defence of activists during the Land War of the later 1880s. In 1892 he married Frances Delaney of Dublin.
He was elected unopposed to represent West Donegal at a by-election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
in May 1890, taking his seat in the in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was the formal name of the United Kingdom during the period when what is now the Republic of Ireland formed a part of it....
. When the Irish Parliamentary Party split in December 1890 over the leadership of Charles Stewart Parnell
Charles Stewart Parnell
Charles Stewart Parnell was an Irish landowner, nationalist political leader, land reform agitator, and the founder and leader of the Irish Parliamentary Party...
, he supported Parnell. In this he must have been influenced to some extent by his family relationship with John and Willie Redmond, both of whom were leading Parnellites. In the general election of 1892 he contested South Meath
South Meath (UK Parliament constituency)
South Meath was a UK Parliament constituency in Ireland, returning one Member of Parliament 1885–1922.Prior to the 1885 general election the area was part of the Meath . From 1922 it was not represented in the UK Parliament....
as a Parnellite, obtaining 2,199 votes to the 2,212 of the Anti-Parnellite
Irish National Federation
The Irish National Federation was a nationalist political party in Ireland. It was founded in March 1891 by former members of the Irish National League who had left the Irish Parliamentary Party in protest when Charles Stewart Parnell refused to resign the party leadership as a result of his...
candidate Patrick Fulham, a losing margin of only 14 votes. He contested the result through a successful petition to the courts, alleging improper interference by the Catholic clergy. A new writ was issued, but in the ensuing by-election in February 1893, Dalton again lost narrowly, obtaining 2,638 votes while the new Anti-Parnellite candidate Jeremiah Jordan
Jeremiah Jordan
Jeremiah Jordan J.P. was an Irish nationalist politician from County Fermanagh. He was a Member of Parliament from 1885 to 1892, and from 1893 to 1910, taking his seat in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.- Early life :Jordan was born in Tattinbar, eldest son...
had 2,707. The course and outcome of Dalton’s challenge to the clergy in 1892 were almost identical to those experienced by his Parnellite colleague Pierce Mahony
Pierce Charles de Lacy O'Mahony
Pierce Charles de Lacy O'Mahony , known up to 1901 as Pierce Mahony, and from 1912 also as The O'Mahony of Kerry, was an Irish Protestant nationalist politician and philanthropist, who practised as a barrister from 1898 to 1900...
at North Meath
North Meath (UK Parliament constituency)
North Meath was a UK Parliament constituency in Ireland, returning one Member of Parliament 1885–1922.Prior to the United Kingdom general election, 1885 the area was part of the Meath constituency. From 1922 it was not represented in the UK Parliament....
.
Dalton then seems to disappear from the historical record. Ferguson (2005) records only “Went to Australia”. It appears that he must have returned to Australia and died there, his death unremarked in Ireland or Britain.