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Lord Lieutenant of Antrim facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

The Lord-Lieutenant of Antrim is a special person who represents the King or Queen in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. Think of them as the monarch's local helper and ambassador in the area.

This important role has changed names over time. In the past, before King James II, these representatives were called "lieutenants of counties." Later, they were known as "governors." The title of Lord-Lieutenant was brought back on 23 August 1831.

Early Representatives of the Monarch

Before the modern Lord-Lieutenant role was fully established, there were different titles for the monarch's representatives in Antrim.

Lieutenants of Antrim (1620s-1680s)

These were some of the earliest people to hold a similar role in Antrim.

Governors of Antrim (1700s-1830s)

After the lieutenants, the role changed to "governors." These individuals also represented the monarch in the county.

  • Alexander MacDonnell, 5th Earl of Antrim
  • Randal William MacDonnell, 1st Marquess of Antrim: until 1801
  • George Chichester, 2nd Marquess of Donegall: until 1831
  • Charles O'Neill, 1st Earl O'Neill: until 1831

Modern Lord-Lieutenants of Antrim

The title of Lord-Lieutenant was officially brought back in 1831. Since then, many notable people have served in this important position, representing the monarch in County Antrim.

  • The 1st Earl O'Neill: 17 October 1831 – 25 March 1841
  • The 3rd Marquess of Donegall: 24 April 1841 – 20 October 1883
  • The 1st Baron Waveney: 4 December 1883 – 15 February 1886
  • Sir Edward Porter Cowan: 2 April 1886 – 24 March 1890
  • Sir Francis Workman-Macnaghten, 3rd Bt.: 21 May 1890 – 21 July 1911
  • The 9th Earl of Shaftesbury: 2 November 1911 – 1916
  • The 12th Viscount Massereene: 9 June 1916 – 1938
  • The 3rd Baron O'Neill: 14 April 1938 – 24 October 1944
  • Senator James Graham Leslie: 12 March 1945 – 16 May 1949
  • The 1st Baron Rathcavan: 22 September 1949 – 1959
  • Sir Richard Dobbs: 24 March 1959 – 1994
  • The 4th Baron O'Neill: 19 April 1994 – 31 August 2008
  • Joan Christie: 1 September 2008 – 28 June 2019
  • David McCorkell: 29 June 2019 – Present

Learn More

  • Lists of Lord Lieutenancies
  • Lord Lieutenancies of Northern Ireland
  • Official Antrim Lieutenancy Website: https://www.antrimlieutenancy.org.uk/history-of-lieutenancy.html
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