Alexander MacDonnell, 3rd Earl of Antrim PC (Ire) (1615–1699) was a

Catholic The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...

peer and military commander in Ireland. He fought together with his brother Randal on the losing side in the

Irish Confederate Wars The Irish Confederate Wars, also called the Eleven Years' War (from ga, Cogadh na hAon-déag mBliana), took place in Ireland between 1641 and 1653. It was the Irish theatre of the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, a series of civil wars in the kin ...

(1641–1653); and then, having succeeded his brother as the 3rd Earl of Antrim in 1683, fought in the

Williamite War The Williamite War in Ireland (1688–1691; ga, Cogadh an Dá Rí, "war of the two kings"), was a conflict between Jacobite supporters of deposed monarch James II and Williamite supporters of his successor, William III. It is also called th ...

(1688–1691), on the losing side again. Twice he forfeited his lands and twice he regained them. However, he may be known best for having been shut out of

Derry Derry, officially Londonderry (), is the second-largest city in Northern Ireland and the fifth-largest city on the island of Ireland. The name ''Derry'' is an anglicisation of the Old Irish name (modern Irish: ) meaning 'oak grove'. The ...

by the apprentice boys in an episode preceding the

Siege of Derry The siege of Derry in 1689 was the first major event in the Williamite War in Ireland. The siege was preceded by a first attempt against the town by Jacobite forces on 7 December 1688 that was foiled when 13 apprentices shut the gates ...

Birth and origins

Alexander was born in 1615, probably at

Dunluce Castle Dunluce Castle (; ) is a now-ruined medieval castle in Northern Ireland, the seat of Clan MacDonnell. It is located on the edge of a basalt outcropping in County Antrim (between Portballintrae and Portrush), and is accessible via a bridge conn ...

, his parents' habitual residence. He was the second son of Randal MacDonnell and his wife, Alice O'Neill. His father, Lord of

the Route ''The Route'' is a Ugandan film directed by Jayant Maru, based on a screenplay he wrote. It is about human trafficking in Uganda. Cast * Sharon Detoro as Samantha * Thomas Kayondo as Sam * Edlyn Sabrina as Sabrina * Felix Bwanika as Mr. Ny ...

and Constable of Dunluce Castle, had been knighted by Lord Deputy Mountjoy in 1602. His father would be created Viscount of Antrim in 1617 and advanced to Earl in 1620. His father's family, the MacDonnell of Antrim, were the Irish branch of the Scottish

Clan Donald Clan Donald, also known as Clan MacDonald ( gd, Clann Dòmhnaill; Mac Dòmhnaill ), is a Highland Scottish clan and one of the largest Scottish clans. The Lord Lyon King of Arms, the Scottish official with responsibility for regulating heraldry ...

. The MacDonnels descended from the twelfth-century Scottish warlord

Somerled Somerled (died 1164), known in Middle Irish as Somairle, Somhairle, and Somhairlidh, and in Old Norse as Sumarliði , was a mid-12th-century Norse-Gaelic lord who, through marital alliance and military conquest, rose in prominence to create the ...

and from

Alexander MacDonald, 5th of Dunnyveg Alexander Carragh MacDonnell, also spelt MacDonald, was the 5th lord of Dunnyveg, Scotland, alive c. 1480–1538. Biography He was the son of John Cathanach MacDonald, 4th of Dunnyveg and Cecillia Savage, daughter of the Lord of the Ardes. Afte ...

, a Scottish-Irish

magnate The magnate term, from the late Latin ''magnas'', a great man, itself from Latin ''magnus'', "great", means a man from the higher nobility, a man who belongs to the high office-holders, or a man in a high social position, by birth, wealth or ot ...

, who was driven out of Scotland by

James IV James IV (17 March 1473 – 9 September 1513) was King of Scotland from 11 June 1488 until his death at the Battle of Flodden in 1513. He inherited the throne at the age of fifteen on the death of his father, James III, at the Battle of Sauch ...

and fled to Ulster where the family was already established through marriages and owned much land in the north-eastern corner of Ireland facing Scotland across the North Channel. His Scottish lands were taken over by the rival

Clan Campbell Clan Campbell ( gd, Na Caimbeulaich ) is a Scottish Highlands, Highland Scottish clan, historically one of the largest and most powerful of the Highland clans. The Clan Campbell lands are in Argyll and within their lands lies Ben Cruachan. The ...

, although the MacDonalds continued to live there and looked towards the MacDonnell family for leadership. Recovering his Scottish lands remained an objective that his father pursued all his life without ever making any progress toward it. Alexander's mother was described as "of good cheerful aspect, freckled, not tall but strong, well set, and acquainted with the English tongue." She was born in 1583 as the daughter of

Hugh O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone Hugh O'Neill ( Irish: ''Aodh Mór Ó Néill''; literally ''Hugh The Great O'Neill''; – 20 July 1616), was an Irish Gaelic lord, Earl of Tyrone (known as the Great Earl) and was later created ''The Ó Néill Mór'', Chief of the Name. O'Nei ...

, and his second wife, Siobhan (i.e. Johanna) O'Donnell. She was thus a member of the

O'Neill dynasty The O'Neill dynasty ( Irish: ''Ó Néill'') are a lineage of Irish Gaelic origin, that held prominent positions and titles in Ireland and elsewhere. As kings of Cenél nEógain, they were historically the most prominent family of the Northe ...

, an ancient Gaelic family, the leaders of which were once kings and ruled all of Ulster. However, her father had left Ireland in the

Flight of the Earls The Flight of the Earls ( ir, Imeacht na nIarlaí)In Irish, the neutral term ''Imeacht'' is usually used i.e. the ''Departure of the Earls''. The term 'Flight' is translated 'Teitheadh na nIarlaí' and is sometimes seen. took place in Se ...

in 1607 and was then

attainted In English criminal law, attainder or attinctura was the metaphorical "stain" or "corruption of blood" which arose from being condemned for a serious capital crime (felony or treason). It entailed losing not only one's life, property and heredit ...

by the Irish Parliament, losing his title and lands. Alexander's parents were both Catholic. They had married in 1604 before the Flight of the Earls. He had one brother (Randall) and six sisters, who are listed in his father's article.

Early life

On 28 May 1618 King James I of England created Alexander's father Viscount Dunluce and in 1620

Earl of Antrim Earl of Antrim is a title that has been created twice, both times in the Peerage of Ireland and both times for members of the MacDonnell family, originally of Scottish origins. History The MacDonells of Antrim descended from Sorley Boy MacDo ...

Glenarm inheritance

On 10 December 1636 Alexander's father died at Dunluce Castle and was buried at the

Bonamargy Bonamargy ( en, foot of the Margy River) is located in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, off the Cushendall Cushendall (), formerly known as Newtownglens, is a coastal village and townland (of 153 acres) in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is ...

Franciscan Friary. In his will he had divided his estate between his two sons. Alexander inherited the Barony of

Glenarm Glenarm () is a village in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It lies on the North Channel coast north of the town of Larne and the village of Ballygalley, and south of the village of Carnlough. It is situated in the civil parish of Tickmacreva ...

, whereas the elder, Randal, inherited the title and the larger share of the land, consisting of the baronies of Dunluce and

Kilconway Kilconway () is a barony in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is bordered by six other baronies: Dunluce Upper to the north; Glenarm Lower to the east; Antrim Lower to the south-east; Toome Lower to the south; Loughinsholin to the south-west; ...

. Alexander MacDonnell was precisely 21 at that time. He, therefore, entered immediately into the possession of his part of the estate. He made

Glenarm Castle Glenarm Castle, Glenarm, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, is the ancestral home of the Earl of Antrim. History There has been a castle at Glenarm since the 13th century, where it resides at the heart of one of Northern Ireland's oldest estates. ...

on the east coast of

County Antrim County Antrim (named after the town of Antrim, ) is one of six counties of Northern Ireland and one of the thirty-two counties of Ireland. Adjoined to the north-east shore of Lough Neagh, the county covers an area of and has a population ...

his residence.

Irish Wars

After coming of age, Alexander MacDonnell spent three years travelling in Europe on his

grand tour The Grand Tour was the principally 17th- to early 19th-century custom of a traditional trip through Europe, with Italy as a key destination, undertaken by upper-class young European men of sufficient means and rank (typically accompanied by a tut ...

. He returned to Ireland just before the outbreak of the

Irish Rebellion of 1641 The Irish Rebellion of 1641 ( ga, Éirí Amach 1641) was an uprising by Irish Catholics in the Kingdom of Ireland, who wanted an end to anti-Catholic discrimination, greater Irish self-governance, and to partially or fully reverse the plantat ...

, in which he sided with the rebels and commanded a regiment in what would soon become the Confederate Ulster army. In November 1643 the Supreme Council appointed seven delegates,

Muskerry Muskerry ( ga, Múscraí) is a central region of County Cork, Ireland which incorporates the baronies of Muskerry WestRobert Talbot,

Nicholas Plunkett Sir Nicholas Plunkett (1602–1680) was an Anglo-Irish lawyer and politician. He was a younger son of Christopher Plunkett, 9th Baron Killeen and Jane (or Genet) Dillon, daughter of Sir Lucas Dillon: his brother Luke was created Earl of Fingal ...

, Dermot O'Brien, Geoffrey Browne, and Richard Martin, to submit grievances to the king and negotiate a peace treaty. In January 1644 they obtained save-conducts from the Lords Justice,

Sir Henry Tichborne Sir Henry Tichborne PC (Ire) (1581–1667) was an English soldier and politician. He excelled at the Siege of Drogheda during the Irish Rebellion of 1641. He governed Ireland as one of the two Lord Justices from 1642 to 1644. In 1647, he foug ...

and John Borlase. It must have been their last days in office as Ormond was appointed and sworn lord lieutenant of Ireland on 21 January 1644. The delegates arrived on 24 March 1644 at

Oxford Oxford () is a city in England. It is the county town and only city of Oxfordshire. In 2020, its population was estimated at 151,584. It is north-west of London, south-east of Birmingham and north-east of Bristol. The city is home to the ...

where the king held his court. Lord Muskerry was the leader of the delegation. He demanded free exercise of the Catholic religion, independence of the Irish Parliament from that of England, and oblivion for their rebellion. However, the arrival of a competing Irish Protestant delegation on 17 April 1644 prevented the King from making such concessions and no peace treaty was signed. Colonel Alexander MacDonnell, as he now was, led the regiment throughout the

until the Confederation surrendered to Cromwell in 1652. Unlike his brother Randal, Alexander respected and adhered to the peace between the Confederates and the Royalists negotiated by Ormond in 1648 and urged for a conciliatory approach. His lands were confiscated in 1652 in Cromwell's

Act of Settlement The Act of Settlement is an Act of the Parliament of England that settled the succession to the English and Irish crowns to only Protestants, which passed in 1701. More specifically, anyone who became a Roman Catholic, or who married one, bec ...

and distributed among Cromwellian soldiers. In exchange he received 3,500 acres in

Connacht Connacht ( ; ga, Connachta or ), is one of the provinces of Ireland, in the west of Ireland. Until the ninth century it consisted of several independent major Gaelic kingdoms ( Uí Fiachrach, Uí Briúin, Uí Maine, Conmhaícne, and ...

. By 1656, he was living in England.

Restoration

At the Restoration in 1660, he was appointed

custos rotulorum ''Custos rotulorum'' (; plural: ''custodes rotulorum''; Latin for "keeper of the rolls", ) is a civic post that is recognised in the United Kingdom (except Scotland) and in Jamaica. England, Wales and Northern Ireland The ''custos rotulorum'' is t ...

for Antrim. In 1668 Alexander MacDonnell was restored to his lands by Charles II.

Marriages

First marriage

In 1665, about 50 years old, MacDonnell married his first wife, Elizabeth Annesley. She was the second daughter of

Arthur Annesley, 1st Earl of Anglesey Arthur Annesley, 1st Earl of Anglesey PC (10 July 16146 April 1686) was an Anglo-Irish royalist statesman. After short periods as President of the Council of State and Treasurer of the Navy, he served as Lord Privy Seal between 1673 and 1682 ...

, a Protestant. The union was childless. She died on 4 September 1672.

Second marriage and children

After 1672 he married, secondly, Helena Burke, daughter of Sir John Burke of Derrymaclaughna (Doire-mic-Lachtna),

County Galway "Righteousness and Justice" , anthem = () , image_map = Island of Ireland location map Galway.svg , map_caption = Location in Ireland , area_footnotes = , area_total_km2 = ...

. Randal and Helena had two children (the birth order is unknown): * Randal (1680–1721), succeeded as the 4th Earl; *Mary, married Henry Wells of Bambridge in 1700.

Earl of Antrim

On 3 February 1683 his only brother, Randal, died childless. Randal had married twice, but both marriages were childless. The marquessate became extinct and Randal was therefore the first and last Marquess of Antrim of the 1645 creation. Alexander succeeded him in the earldom as the 3rd Earl of Antrim. In 1685, Lord Antrim, as he was now, was invested as a

Privy Counsellor The Privy Council (PC), officially His Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, is a formal body of advisers to the sovereign of the United Kingdom. Its membership mainly comprises senior politicians who are current or former members of ei ...

and Lord-Lieutenant of Antrim shortly after the accession of King James II, as the new king followed a policy of replacing Protestant officials with Catholic ones throughout Ireland.

Williamite War

At the outbreak of the

Glorious Revolution The Glorious Revolution; gd, Rèabhlaid Ghlòrmhor; cy, Chwyldro Gogoneddus , also known as the ''Glorieuze Overtocht'' or ''Glorious Crossing'' in the Netherlands, is the sequence of events leading to the deposition of King James II and ...

, which replaced James II with William of Orange, Antrim was already in his seventies. He stayed loyal to James. When the Dutch invasion threatened, James ordered Richard Talbot, Earl of Tyrconnell, whom James had appointed viceroy of Ireland, to send reliable Irish troops to England. These units sailed to Chester in September and early October 1688. To replace these units, Tyrconnell ordered four new regiments to be raised, one for each Irish province. The Ulster regiment was to be raised by Antrim. He hired 1,200 Scottish mercenaries (i.e. redshanks), making sure they were all Catholics. The unit was supposed to be ready on 20 November, but delays occurred. At that time Tyrconnell's remodelling of the Irish army had advanced so far that few units still had significant numbers of Protestant soldiers. One of those was the regiment of

Viscount Mountjoy The title of Viscount Mountjoy has been created three times, twice in the Peerage of Ireland and once in the Peerage of Great Britain. The creations in the Peerage of Ireland were made in 1683 and 1795, and became extinct in 1769 and 1829, respec ...

, a Protestant loyal to James. This unit was in the garrison at Derry. Tyrconnell considered this unit unreliable and on 23 November he ordered Mountjoy to march to Dublin, supposedly for embarking to England. Mountjoy's regiment was to be replaced by Antrim's, but that was not ready and Derry found itself without a garrison. When Antrim finally got his troops on the way, he met Colonel George Philips, a Protestant, at Newtown Limavady, who immediately sent a messenger to Derry to warn the city. On 7 December 1688, with Antrim's regiment on the Waterside of Derry, ready to cross the Foyle River under the Ferryquay Gate, thirteen apprentices seized the city keys and locked the gates. With this Derry was in rebellion against Tyrconnell and James. Antrim was not strong enough to take the town by force and retreated to

Coleraine Coleraine ( ; from ga, Cúil Rathain , 'nook of the ferns'Flanaghan, Deirdre & Laurence; ''Irish Place Names'', page 194. Gill & Macmillan, 2002. ) is a town and civil parish near the mouth of the River Bann in County Londonderry, Northern ...

When Tyrconnell heard that Antrim had been kept out of Derry, he stopped Mountjoy on his march to Dublin and sent him back to Derry. On 21 December Mountjoy reached Derry and struck a deal with the city, according to which two of his companies, consisting entirely of Protestant soldiers, would be let into town. The one was commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Lundy, the other by Captain William Stewart. Both later swore allegiance to William. Mountjoy appointed Lundy as governor of the town in place of Philips. Antrim sat in the

House of Lords The House of Lords, also known as the House of Peers, is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Membership is by appointment, heredity or official function. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminst ...

of James II's

Patriot Parliament Patriot Parliament is the name commonly used for the Irish Parliament session called by King James II during the Williamite War in Ireland which lasted from 1688 to 1691. The first since 1666, it held only one session, which lasted from 7 May ...

in Dublin. James lost the Williamite War in Ireland with the fall of Limerick in 1691. Antrim, as a supporter of James, was one of the losers. Peace was signed with the Treaty of Limerick according to which all the members of the Irish landed gentry having served in the Jacobite Army who did not immediately swear allegiance to

William William is a male given name of Germanic origin.Hanks, Hardcastle and Hodges, ''Oxford Dictionary of First Names'', Oxford University Press, 2nd edition, , p. 276. It became very popular in the English language after the Norman conquest of Engl ...

and Mary would forfeit their title and lands. Antrim seems to have missed his chance in 1691 and not have sworn allegiance to William immediately after the signing of the treaty. However, he seems to have obtained a pardon at a later stage and did regain possession of his lands.

Death, succession, and timeline

Alexander MacDonnell, 3rd Earl of Antrim, died in June 1699 and was buried at

Holywell, Flintshire Holywell ( '','' cy, Treffynnon) is a market town and community in Flintshire, Wales. It lies to the west of the estuary of the River Dee. The community includes Greenfield. Etymology The name Holywell is literally ' + ' in reference to St W ...

, Wales. He was succeeded by his son Randal as the 4th Earl of Antrim.

Notes and references

Notes

Citations

Sources

* – 1642 to 1660 * * * – (for Antrim) * * – (Preview) * – Ab-Adam to Basing * – 1645 to 1649 * – Scotland and Ireland * * – (for timeline) * – 1642 to 1644 * – Short biographies in the biographical notes * * * – Blood royal, dukes, earls (for Antrim) * – 1689 to 1690 * * * * – 1641 to 1643 * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Antrim, Alexander Macdonnell, 3rd Earl Of 1615 births 1699 deaths 17th-century Irish people Earls of Antrim MacDonnell Members of the Privy Council of Ireland MacDonnell