Randal McDonnell, 8th Earl of Antrim
Randal John Somerled McDonnell, 8th Earl of Antrim (1911–1977) was a diplomat, activist, soldier and administrator from Northern Ireland. He became chairman of the National Trust in 1965. Life. He was the son of Randal Mark Kerr McDonnell, 7th Earl of Antrim, and his wife, Margaret Isabel Talbot, daughter of John Gilbert Talbot. He was educated at Eton College and at Christ Church, Oxford, where he was a friend of Evelyn Waugh, and left without taking a degree. He succeeded his father in 1932. In 1937 Antrim visited Valencia, during the Spanish Civil War , with Cyril Connolly. During the Second World War Antrim was a Royal Navy officer, with the rank of Lieutenant-Commander. With the Special Operations Executive and Peter Fleming he served in various theatres of war. Antrim was Chairman of the National Trust from 1965 to 1977. Family. Antrim married the artist Angela Sykes in 1934: she was the daughter of Sir Tatton Benvenuto Mark Sykes, 6th Baronet, and sister of Christopher Sykes. They lived at Glenarm Castle. They had three sons, one of whom died young, and a daughter Lady Christina who married Joseph Hoare, son of Sir Reginald Hervey  Hoare. The elder surviving son Alexander succeeded his father as Earl; the younger son was Hector McDonnell the artist.