Robert Sidney, 2nd Earl of Leicester
Encyclopedia
Robert Sidney, 2nd Earl of Leicester (1 December 1595 – 2 November 1677) was an English aristocrat and diplomat.
, and his first wife, Barbara Gamage
. He was educated at Christ Church, Oxford
and entered parliament as member for Wilton
in 1614.
He served in the army in the Netherlands during his father's governorship of Flushing, In 1616 he was given command of an English regiment in the Dutch service; he was called to the bar in 1618. He succeeded his father as Earl of Leicester in 1626 and was employed on diplomatic business in Denmark
in 1632
In 1631, the earl began the construction of Leicester House
, a huge mansion on the site of what is now Leicester Square
in London. He undertook further diplomatic work in France from 1636 to 1641.
He was then appointed Lord Lieutenant of Ireland
in place of The Earl of Strafford
. When the governorship of Dublin became vacant, Leicester appointed George Monck
. Charles I
, however, overruled the appointment in favour of Lord Lambart
.
In 1643 he resigned without having set foot in Ireland.
, was the daughter of Henry Percy, 9th Earl of Northumberland
.
The Earl and Countess of Leicester had twelve children, including:
Philip and Algernon supported the Parliamentary cause in the English Civil War
.
Life
He was the son of Robert Sidney, 1st Earl of LeicesterRobert Sidney, 1st Earl of Leicester
Robert Sidney, 1st Earl of Leicester , second son of Sir Henry Sidney, was a statesman of Elizabethan and Jacobean England. He was also a patron of the arts and an interesting poet...
, and his first wife, Barbara Gamage
Barbara Gamage
Barbara Sidney, Countess of Leicester was a Welsh heiress, and the first wife of Robert Sidney, 1st Earl of Leicester.Barbara Gamage inherited Coity Castle, Glamorgan, on the death of her father, John Gamage, in 1584, and became the ward of Sir Edward Stradling of St Donat's Castle, Glamorgan,...
. He was educated at Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church or house of Christ, and thus sometimes known as The House), is one of the largest constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England...
and entered parliament as member for Wilton
Wilton
- England :*Wilton, Cumbria, a place in the county of Cumbria*Wilton, Herefordshire, a village in south Herefordshire*Wilton, North Yorkshire, a place in the county of North Yorkshire*Wilton, Redcar and Cleveland, a place in the borough of Redcar and Cleveland...
in 1614.
He served in the army in the Netherlands during his father's governorship of Flushing, In 1616 he was given command of an English regiment in the Dutch service; he was called to the bar in 1618. He succeeded his father as Earl of Leicester in 1626 and was employed on diplomatic business in Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
in 1632
In 1631, the earl began the construction of Leicester House
Leicester House
There have been two mansions in London, England called Leicester House:*A house in the Strand near the Temple: Leicester House, Strand. This existed in the Tudor period, and possibly earlier ....
, a huge mansion on the site of what is now Leicester Square
Leicester Square
Leicester Square is a pedestrianised square in the West End of London, England. The Square lies within an area bound by Lisle Street, to the north; Charing Cross Road, to the east; Orange Street, to the south; and Whitcomb Street, to the west...
in London. He undertook further diplomatic work in France from 1636 to 1641.
He was then appointed Lord Lieutenant of Ireland
Lord Lieutenant of Ireland
The Lord Lieutenant of Ireland was the British King's representative and head of the Irish executive during the Lordship of Ireland , the Kingdom of Ireland and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland...
in place of The Earl of Strafford
Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford
Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford was an English statesman and a major figure in the period leading up to the English Civil War. He served in Parliament and was a supporter of King Charles I. From 1632 to 1639 he instituted a harsh rule as Lord Deputy of Ireland...
. When the governorship of Dublin became vacant, Leicester appointed George Monck
George Monck, 1st Duke of Albemarle
George Monck, 1st Duke of Albemarle, KG was an English soldier and politician and a key figure in the restoration of Charles II.-Early life and career:...
. Charles I
Charles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
, however, overruled the appointment in favour of Lord Lambart
Charles Lambart, 1st Earl of Cavan
Charles Lambart, 1st Earl of Cavan PC was an MP for the rotten borough of Bossiney and a military commander.-Politics:He held the office of Member of Parliament for Bossiney in 1626....
.
In 1643 he resigned without having set foot in Ireland.
Family
His wife, Dorothy PercyDorothy Sidney, Countess of Leicester
Dorothy Sidney, Countess of Leicester was the eldest daughter of Henry Percy, 9th Earl of Northumberland and the former Lady Dorothy Devereux. In 1615, she married Robert Sidney, 2nd Earl of Leicester...
, was the daughter of Henry Percy, 9th Earl of Northumberland
Henry Percy, 9th Earl of Northumberland
Henry Percy, 9th Earl of Northumberland KG was an English aristocrat. He was a grandee and one of the wealthiest peers of the court of Elizabeth I. Under James I, Henry was a long-term prisoner in the Tower of London. He is known for the circles he moved in as well as for his own achievements...
.
The Earl and Countess of Leicester had twelve children, including:
- Dorothy Sidney, Countess of LeicesterDorothy Sidney, Countess of LeicesterDorothy Sidney, Countess of Leicester was the eldest daughter of Henry Percy, 9th Earl of Northumberland and the former Lady Dorothy Devereux. In 1615, she married Robert Sidney, 2nd Earl of Leicester...
(1617-1683), married Henry Spencer, 1st Earl of SunderlandHenry Spencer, 1st Earl of SunderlandHenry Spencer, 1st Earl of Sunderland, 3rd Baron Spencer of Wormleighton , known as The Lord Spencer between 1636 and June 1643, was an English peer who fought and died in the English civil war on the side of the Cavaliers.Henry was born at Althorp to William Spencer, 2nd Baron Spencer and was...
. - PhilipPhilip Sidney, 3rd Earl of LeicesterPhilip Sidney, 3rd Earl of Leicester was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1640 and 1659 and inherited the peerage of Earl of Leicester in 1677. He supported the Parliamentary cause in the English Civil War...
(1619-1697), the 3rd Earl, married Lady Catherine Cecil, daughter of William Cecil, 2nd Earl of SalisburyWilliam Cecil, 2nd Earl of SalisburyWilliam Cecil, 2nd Earl of Salisbury, KG , known as Viscount Cranborne from 1605 to 1612, was an English peer and politician.-Early years, 1591-1612:...
. - Henry Sidney, 1st Earl of Romney, died unmarried and without issue.
- Algernon, died unmarried and without issue.
- Robert, died young.
- Lucy (d. 1685), married Sir John Pelham, 3rd Baronet.
Philip and Algernon supported the Parliamentary cause in the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
.
Further reading
- Michael G. Brennan (2005). The Sidneys of Penshurst and the monarchy, 1500-1700, Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. ISBN 075465060X, 9780754650607. pp. 140-149