Here are some facts about this Tudor courtier:
- Sir Henry Sidney was born on 20th July 1529 and was the eldest son of Sir William Sidney of Penshurst and his wife, Anne Pagenham, widow of Thomas Fitzwilliam.
- Sidney started his court career in 1538 as a companion to Prince Edward, son of King Henry VIII, and when Edward became King Edward VI, Sidney served in his privy chamber.
- In 1547, Sidney became a Member of Parliament for Brackley, and served as an MP again in 1553 for Kent.
- In March 1551, he married Mary Dudley, daughter of John Dudley, Duke of Northumberland, and sister of Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester.
- Sidney was knighted in October 1551.
- While his father-in-law was Lord President of Edward VI's royal council, Sidney carried out a diplomatic mission to France.
- Despite the fall of his father in law in the succession crisis of July 1553, Sidney survived and was issued with a royal pardon by Mary I. His niece, Jane Dormer, was close to Mary I.
- In Mary I's reign, he carried out diplomatic missions.
- In 1554, Mary's consort, Philip of Spain, stood as godfather to Sidney's eldest son, Philip.
- In 1556, Sidney served as vice-treasurer of Ireland under Thomas Radcliffe, Earl of Sussex, as lord deputy. He acted as Radcliffe's substitute for long periods while Radcliffe was away in England.
- From 1558, when Elizabeth I came to the throne, the queen's favourite, Robert Dudley, who was Sidney's brother-in-law, acted as Sidney's patron.
- In May 1561, Sidney was appointed president of the council in the Marches of Wales and was sent to Ludlow. However, he was sent to Scotland in July 1562 to postpone a meeting between Elizabeth I and Mary, Queen of Scots.
- In 1565, Sidney was made lord deputy of Ireland even though it was a country he said he "cursed, hated, and detested".
- He was recalled from Ireland in 1578 and in 1579 joined the queen's privy council, although he preferred to spend his time in Ludlow rather than at court.
- Sidney died on 5th May 1586 and his wife, Mary, died just three months later, on 11th August 1586, and was laid to rest with her husband.
- He was the father of poets Philip and Robert Sidney, and Mary Herbert, Countess of Pembroke.
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