John Dillon Nugent

Who was John Dillon Nugent?

John Dillon Nugent was an Irish nationalist politician, insurance representative and company director. He was born at Keady, County Armagh in 1869 and educated at National Schools there. He married in 1896 and with his wife Mary had three sons and three daughters.

He was the national secretary of the Ancient Order of Hibernians from 1904 until his death. Patrick Maume described him as Joseph Devlin's 'right-hand man'. Marie Coleman in the Dictionary of Irish Biography states that he used the AOH to intimidate the Irish Party's opponents, and that he orchestrated the attacks on William O'Brien at the infamous United Irish League ‘baton convention’ of 1909.

Nugent was a member of Dublin Corporation from 1912 and a Poor Law Guardian 1908-20. He was elected as MP for the constituency of Dublin College Green at the by-election of 11 June 1915 following the death of Joseph Patrick Nannetti, defeating the Labour candidate Thomas Farren, who stood on a separatist programme, by 2445 votes to 1816. He was defeated at the 1918 general election by Michael Staines of Sinn Féin contesting Dublin St Michan's.

At the Northern Ireland general election, 1921, Nugent was elected as a Nationalist in the Armagh seat. He was defeated at the 1925 general election. Following this defeat he concentrated on his insurance and other business interests.