Alexander MacDonnell, 3rd Earl of Antrim
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Alexander MacDonnell, 3rd Earl of Antrim (1615 – 10 December 1699) was an Roman Catholic peer and military commander in Ireland
. He was the son of Randal MacDonnell, 1st Earl of Antrim
and his wife, Alice O'Neill (Alice was the daughter of Hugh Ó Neill, 2nd Earl of Tyrone).
After coming of age, MacDonnell spend three years abroad in Europe before returning to Ireland just before the outbreak of the Irish Rebellion of 1641
. MacDonnell was commander of a regiment of Irish against Cromwell in 1641, and soon took his place among the Irish leadership. Unlike his brother, Randal, he urged a conciliatory approach to the English under Oliver Cromwell
. He remained in command of a regiment until the Confederation surrendered to Cromwell
in 1652. His lands were confiscated and distributed amongst Cromwellian soldiers
. By 1656, MacDonnell was living in England, and at Restoration
was restored to his lands.
In 1680, MacDonnell was appointed custos rotulorum
for Antrim, and he succeeded to the title of Earl of Antrim
on 3 February 1682 on the death of his brother. He was invested as a Privy Counsellor
and Lord-Lieutenant of Antrim shortly after the accession of King James II
, as the King followed a policy of replacing Protestants with Catholics across Ireland. At the outbreak of the Glorious Revolution
, MacDonnell adhered to James and presided over the unsuccessful siege of Derry
. On James's defeat, MacDonnell's lands and titles were, again, declared forfeit. In 1697 he was restored to his title.
He married, firstly, Lady Elizabeth Annesley, daughter of Arthur Annesley, 1st Earl of Anglesey
. She died childless in 1669. He married, secondly, Helena Burke, daughter of Sir John Burke of Derrymaclachtney, after 1672. They had one son, Randal, and one daughter, Mary.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. He was the son of Randal MacDonnell, 1st Earl of Antrim
Randal MacDonnell, 1st Earl of Antrim
Randal MacDonnell, 1st Earl of Antrim , having been fostered in the Gaelic manner on the Scottish island of Arran by the Hamiltons, was the 4th son of Sorley Boy MacDonnell, and of Mary, daughter of Conn O'Neill, 1st Earl of Tyrone.He fought at first against the English government, participating...
and his wife, Alice O'Neill (Alice was the daughter of Hugh Ó Neill, 2nd Earl of Tyrone).
After coming of age, MacDonnell spend three years abroad in Europe before returning to Ireland just before the outbreak of the Irish Rebellion of 1641
Irish Rebellion of 1641
The Irish Rebellion of 1641 began as an attempted coup d'état by Irish Catholic gentry, who tried to seize control of the English administration in Ireland to force concessions for the Catholics living under English rule...
. MacDonnell was commander of a regiment of Irish against Cromwell in 1641, and soon took his place among the Irish leadership. Unlike his brother, Randal, he urged a conciliatory approach to the English under Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell was an English military and political leader who overthrew the English monarchy and temporarily turned England into a republican Commonwealth, and served as Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland....
. He remained in command of a regiment until the Confederation surrendered to Cromwell
Cromwellian conquest of Ireland
The Cromwellian conquest of Ireland refers to the conquest of Ireland by the forces of the English Parliament, led by Oliver Cromwell during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. Cromwell landed in Ireland with his New Model Army on behalf of England's Rump Parliament in 1649...
in 1652. His lands were confiscated and distributed amongst Cromwellian soldiers
Act for the Settlement of Ireland 1652
The Act for the Settlement of Ireland imposed penalties including death and land confiscation against participants and bystanders of the Irish Rebellion of 1641 and subsequent unrest.-Background:...
. By 1656, MacDonnell was living in England, and at Restoration
English Restoration
The Restoration of the English monarchy began in 1660 when the English, Scottish and Irish monarchies were all restored under Charles II after the Interregnum that followed the Wars of the Three Kingdoms...
was restored to his lands.
In 1680, MacDonnell was appointed custos rotulorum
Custos rotulorum
Custos rotulorum is the keeper of an English county's records and, by virtue of that office, the highest civil officer in the county...
for Antrim, and he succeeded to the title of Earl of Antrim
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. This family descends from Sorley Boy MacDonnell, who established the family in County Antrim...
on 3 February 1682 on the death of his brother. He was invested as a Privy Counsellor
Privy Council of Ireland
The Privy Council of Ireland was an institution of the Kingdom of Ireland until 31 December 1800 and of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland 1801-1922...
and Lord-Lieutenant of Antrim shortly after the accession of King James II
James II of England
James II & VII was King of England and King of Ireland as James II and King of Scotland as James VII, from 6 February 1685. He was the last Catholic monarch to reign over the Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland...
, as the King followed a policy of replacing Protestants with Catholics across Ireland. At the outbreak of the Glorious Revolution
Glorious Revolution
The Glorious Revolution, also called the Revolution of 1688, is the overthrow of King James II of England by a union of English Parliamentarians with the Dutch stadtholder William III of Orange-Nassau...
, MacDonnell adhered to James and presided over the unsuccessful siege of Derry
Siege of Derry
The Siege of Derry took place in Ireland from 18 April to 28 July 1689, during the Williamite War in Ireland. The city, a Williamite stronghold, was besieged by a Jacobite army until it was relieved by Royal Navy ships...
. On James's defeat, MacDonnell's lands and titles were, again, declared forfeit. In 1697 he was restored to his title.
He married, firstly, Lady Elizabeth Annesley, daughter of Arthur Annesley, 1st Earl of Anglesey
Arthur Annesley, 1st Earl of Anglesey
Arthur Annesley, 1st Earl of Anglesey PC 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 for Charles II...
. She died childless in 1669. He married, secondly, Helena Burke, daughter of Sir John Burke of Derrymaclachtney, after 1672. They had one son, Randal, and one daughter, Mary.