Alexander MacDonnell, 3rd Earl of Antrim facts for kids

Alexander MacDonnell, 3rd Earl of Antrim (1615–1699), was an important Irish leader and military commander who was Catholic. He fought in two big wars in Ireland, the Irish Confederate Wars (1641–1653) and the Williamite War (1688–1691). In both wars, his side lost. Because of this, he lost his lands twice, but he also managed to get them back twice!

He is perhaps most famous for a time when some young apprentices in the city of Derry locked him out of their city. This happened just before the famous Siege of Derry.

Early Life and Family

Alexander was born in 1615, probably at Dunluce Castle in Ireland. His parents were Randal MacDonnell and Alice O'Neill. Both of his parents were Catholic.

His father was a powerful leader in the area called "the Route" and was in charge of Dunluce Castle. He later became a Viscount in 1617 and then the Earl of Antrim in 1620. Alexander's family, the MacDonnell of Antrim, were a branch of the Scottish Clan Donald. This family came from a Scottish warrior named Somerled and had strong ties to both Scotland and Ireland. They owned a lot of land in the northeast part of Ireland, facing Scotland.

Alexander's mother, Alice O'Neill, was from a very old Irish family, the O'Neill dynasty. Her father, Hugh O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone, was once a king who ruled all of Ulster. However, he had to leave Ireland in 1607, and his titles and lands were taken away.

Alexander was the second son in his family. He had seven brothers and sisters.

Inheriting Glenarm

On December 10, 1636, Alexander's father passed away. In his will, he divided his lands between his two sons. Alexander received the area called Glenarm, and his older brother, Randal, inherited the main title and more land.

Alexander was 21 years old at this time, so he immediately took control of his part of the family's property. He made Glenarm Castle on the east coast of County Antrim his home.

Irish Wars and Politics

After he became an adult, Alexander MacDonnell spent three years traveling around Europe. He came back to Ireland just before the Irish Rebellion of 1641 began. He chose to support the rebels and became a commander in their army, which was known as the Confederate Ulster army.

In 1643, Alexander was chosen as one of seven people to talk to the king and try to make a peace agreement. They went to Oxford, England, where the king was staying. They asked for Catholics to be able to practice their religion freely and for the Irish Parliament to be independent from England. However, another group of Irish Protestants arrived, and no peace treaty was signed.

Alexander continued to lead his regiment throughout the Irish Confederate Wars. His side surrendered in 1652. Because he supported the losing side, his lands were taken away in 1652. He was given some land in another part of Ireland, Connacht, instead. By 1656, he was living in England.

When the king returned to power in 1660 (this was called the English Restoration), Alexander MacDonnell got his lands back in 1668.

Marriages and Children

First Marriage

In 1665, when he was about 50 years old, Alexander married his first wife, Elizabeth Annesley. She was the daughter of a Protestant leader. They did not have any children. Elizabeth passed away in 1672.

Second Marriage and Children

After 1672, when he was about 60, Alexander married his second wife, Helena Burke. She was from County Galway. Alexander and Helena had two children:

• Randal (born around 1680), who later became the 4th Earl.
• Mary, who married Henry Wells in 1700.

Becoming Earl of Antrim

On February 3, 1683, Alexander's only brother, Randal, died without any children. This meant that Alexander became the 3rd Earl of Antrim.

In 1685, the new King, James II, made Lord Antrim a member of the Privy Council of Ireland and the Lord-Lieutenant of Antrim. King James II was replacing Protestant officials with Catholic ones across Ireland.

The Williamite War

When the Glorious Revolution began, which eventually replaced King James II with William of Orange, Lord Antrim was already in his seventies. He remained loyal to King James II.

King James II ordered his viceroy in Ireland to send Irish soldiers to England. To replace these soldiers, four new regiments were to be formed in Ireland. Lord Antrim was asked to raise a regiment in Ulster. He hired 1,200 Scottish soldiers, making sure they were all Catholic.

At this time, the city of Derry had a Protestant army unit. The king's viceroy wanted to replace them with Antrim's new Catholic soldiers. However, Antrim's regiment was not ready yet.

When Antrim's troops finally started marching towards Derry, a Protestant leader warned the city. On December 7, 1688, as Antrim's soldiers were about to enter Derry, thirteen young apprentices quickly locked the city gates. This act meant Derry was rebelling against the king's viceroy. Antrim's forces were not strong enough to take the city by force, so he had to retreat.

MacDonnell's residence Glenarm Castle in County Antrim as it looks today.

Later, King James II lost the Williamite War in Ireland in 1691. As a supporter of King James, Lord Antrim was on the losing side. A peace treaty was signed, which said that anyone who fought for King James and did not immediately promise loyalty to the new King William and Queen Mary would lose their titles and lands. It seems Lord Antrim did not pledge loyalty right away, but he was later pardoned and got his lands back.

Death and Succession

Alexander MacDonnell, the 3rd Earl of Antrim, passed away in June 1699. He was buried in Holywell, Flintshire, Wales. His son, Randal, became the 4th Earl of Antrim after him.