Randal MacDonnell, 1st Earl of Antrim
Encyclopedia
Randal MacDonnell, 1st Earl of Antrim (died December 10, 1636), (called "Arranach" in Irish
/Scottish Gaelic) (meaning "of Arran") 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 in his brother James's victory over Sir John Chichester
at Carrickfergus
in November 1597, and joining in O'Neill's rebellion in 1600. But on December 16 he signed articles with Sir Arthur Chichester and was granted protection; in 1601 he became head of his house by his elder brother's death, his pardon being confirmed to him; and in 1602 he submitted to Lord Mountjoy and was knighted.
On the accession of James I
in 1603 he obtained a grant of the Route and the Glynns (Glens) districts, together with the island of Rathlin, and remained faithful to the government in spite of the unpopularity he thereby incurred among his kinsmen, who conspired to depose him. In 1607 he successfully defended himself against the charge of disloyalty on the occasion of the flight of the earls of Tyrone and Tyrconnell, and rendered services to the government by settling and civilizing his districts, being well received the following year by James in London.
In 1618 he was created Viscount Dunluce, and subsequently he was appointed a privy councillor and lord-lieutenant of the county of Antrim. On December 12, 1620 he was created Earl of Antrim
. In 1621 he was charged with harbouring Roman Catholic priests, confessed his offence and was pardoned. He offered his assistance in 1625 during the prospect of a Spanish invasion, but was still regarded as a person that needed watching. His arbitrary conduct in Ireland in 1627 was suggested as a fit subject for examination by the Star Chamber
, but his fidelity to the government was strictly maintained to the last. In 1631 he was busy repairing Protestant churches, and in 1634 he attended the Irish parliament.
He made an important agreement in 1635 for the purchase from James Campbell, Lord Cantire, of the lordship of Cantire, or Kintyre, of which 'the MacDonnells had been dispossessed in 1600 by Argyll; but his possession was successfully opposed by Lord Lorne Archibald Campbell, 1st Marquess of Argyll
.
He was an important figure in the plantation
of Ulster
, essentially settling his estate with large numbers of Protestants from the Scottish lowlands (though he himself remained an important patron of Catholic monastic foundations in his lands). He also build grand houses, in the English style, on his lands: again suggesting his willing co-operation with the English project of 'civilising' Ireland. His approach to the English crown has been characterised as "unconscious colonialism." http://ebooks.ebookmall.com/title/british-interventions-in-early-modern-ireland-brady-ohlmeyer-ebooks.htm It has also been suggested he was inspired by James IV of Scotland
's failed attempts to 'plant' the Western Isles.
Antrim married Alice, daughter of Hugh O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone, by whom, besides six daughters, he had Randal, 2nd earl and 1st marquess of Antrim, and Alexander, 3rd earl
. Three other sons, Maurice, Francis and James, were probably illegitimate. The earldom has continued in the family down to the present day, the 11th earl (b. 1851) succeeding in 1869. See also An Historical Account of the MacDonnells of Antrim, by G Hill (1873).
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Irish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
/Scottish Gaelic) (meaning "of Arran") having been fostered in the Gaelic manner on the Scottish island of Arran
Isle of Arran
Arran or the Isle of Arran is the largest island in the Firth of Clyde, Scotland, and with an area of is the seventh largest Scottish island. It is in the unitary council area of North Ayrshire and the 2001 census had a resident population of 5,058...
by the Hamiltons, was the 4th son of Sorley Boy MacDonnell
Sorley Boy MacDonnell
Somhairle Buidhe Mac Domhnaill , Scoto-Irish prince or flaith and chief, was the son of Alexander MacDonnell, lord of Islay and Kintyre , and Catherine, daughter of the Lord of Ardnamurchan...
, and of Mary, daughter of Conn O'Neill, 1st Earl of Tyrone
Conn O'Neill, 1st Earl of Tyrone
Conn O'Neill, 1st Earl of Tyrone King of Tír Eógain, c. 1480–1559.-Biography:A son of Conn Mór, King of Tír Eógain, grandson of Henry Ó Néill, the King of Tír Eógain, was the first of the Ó Néills whom the attempts of the English in the 16th century to subjugate Ireland brought to the front as...
.
He fought at first against the English government, participating in his brother James's victory over Sir John Chichester
John Chichester
John Chichester was the President Pro Tempore of the Virginia Senate. He represented the 28th district in the Senate from 1978 to 2007....
at Carrickfergus
Carrickfergus
Carrickfergus , known locally and colloquially as "Carrick", is a large town in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is located on the north shore of Belfast Lough, from Belfast. The town had a population of 27,201 at the 2001 Census and takes its name from Fergus Mór mac Eirc, the 6th century king...
in November 1597, and joining in O'Neill's rebellion in 1600. But on December 16 he signed articles with Sir Arthur Chichester and was granted protection; in 1601 he became head of his house by his elder brother's death, his pardon being confirmed to him; and in 1602 he submitted to Lord Mountjoy and was knighted.
On the accession of James I
James I of England
James VI and I was King of Scots as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the English and Scottish crowns on 24 March 1603...
in 1603 he obtained a grant of the Route and the Glynns (Glens) districts, together with the island of Rathlin, and remained faithful to the government in spite of the unpopularity he thereby incurred among his kinsmen, who conspired to depose him. In 1607 he successfully defended himself against the charge of disloyalty on the occasion of the flight of the earls of Tyrone and Tyrconnell, and rendered services to the government by settling and civilizing his districts, being well received the following year by James in London.
In 1618 he was created Viscount Dunluce, and subsequently he was appointed a privy councillor and lord-lieutenant of the county of Antrim. On December 12, 1620 he was created 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...
. In 1621 he was charged with harbouring Roman Catholic priests, confessed his offence and was pardoned. He offered his assistance in 1625 during the prospect of a Spanish invasion, but was still regarded as a person that needed watching. His arbitrary conduct in Ireland in 1627 was suggested as a fit subject for examination by the Star Chamber
Star Chamber
The Star Chamber was an English court of law that sat at the royal Palace of Westminster until 1641. It was made up of Privy Counsellors, as well as common-law judges and supplemented the activities of the common-law and equity courts in both civil and criminal matters...
, but his fidelity to the government was strictly maintained to the last. In 1631 he was busy repairing Protestant churches, and in 1634 he attended the Irish parliament.
He made an important agreement in 1635 for the purchase from James Campbell, Lord Cantire, of the lordship of Cantire, or Kintyre, of which 'the MacDonnells had been dispossessed in 1600 by Argyll; but his possession was successfully opposed by Lord Lorne Archibald Campbell, 1st Marquess of Argyll
Archibald Campbell, 1st Marquess of Argyll
Archibald Campbell, 1st Marquess of Argyll, 8th Earl of Argyll, chief of Clan Campbell, was the de facto head of government in Scotland during most of the conflict known as the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, also known as the British Civil War...
.
He was an important figure in the plantation
Plantation
A plantation is a long artificially established forest, farm or estate, where crops are grown for sale, often in distant markets rather than for local on-site consumption...
of Ulster
Ulster
Ulster is one of the four provinces of Ireland, located in the north of the island. In ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial...
, essentially settling his estate with large numbers of Protestants from the Scottish lowlands (though he himself remained an important patron of Catholic monastic foundations in his lands). He also build grand houses, in the English style, on his lands: again suggesting his willing co-operation with the English project of 'civilising' Ireland. His approach to the English crown has been characterised as "unconscious colonialism." http://ebooks.ebookmall.com/title/british-interventions-in-early-modern-ireland-brady-ohlmeyer-ebooks.htm It has also been suggested he was inspired by James IV of Scotland
James IV of Scotland
James IV was King of Scots from 11 June 1488 to his death. He is generally regarded as the most successful of the Stewart monarchs of Scotland, but his reign ended with the disastrous defeat at the Battle of Flodden Field, where he became the last monarch from not only Scotland, but also from all...
's failed attempts to 'plant' the Western Isles.
Antrim married Alice, daughter of Hugh O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone, by whom, besides six daughters, he had Randal, 2nd earl and 1st marquess of Antrim, and Alexander, 3rd earl
Alexander MacDonnell, 3rd Earl of Antrim
Alexander MacDonnell, 3rd Earl of Antrim 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 .After coming of age, MacDonnell spend three years abroad in Europe before returning to Ireland just before the...
. Three other sons, Maurice, Francis and James, were probably illegitimate. The earldom has continued in the family down to the present day, the 11th earl (b. 1851) succeeding in 1869. See also An Historical Account of the MacDonnells of Antrim, by G Hill (1873).
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