Lee-Dillon, Harold Arthur (1844-01-24 - 1932-12-18)

Harold Arthur Lee-Dillon was born on 24 January 1844 in London. He was educated at Eltham, Kent and Bonn, Germany. He served in the army, retiring with the rank of major in 1891. Lee-Dillon became a noted antiquary, sometimes publishing under his pen-name 'Armadillo'. In 1892, Lee-Dillon succeeded his father as seventeenth Viscount Dillon, and was appointed as the first curator of the Tower of London armouries in the same year. He presented and bequeathed various portraits to the National Portrait Gallery, including 'The Ditchley Portrait'. In 1921, Lord Dillon received an honorary degree of D.C.L. from the University of Oxford, in addition to the Order of the Companion of Honour. Lord Dillon died at Ditchley on 18 December 1932, and was buried in Enstone church, Oxfordshire.