Genealogy research by Mark Humphrys.
Genealogy research by Mark Humphrys.
Sir Henry Sidney, K.G.,
|
He
mar 1553 to Lady Mary Dudley
[descendant of Edward I].
Her father Northumberland was the main figure behind the plan to make Lady Jane Grey Queen after Edward VI. Edward VI died Thur 6th July 1553, Greenwich Palace, London, age 15. He is said to have died in the arms of his friend Sir Henry Sidney (age 23). Sir Henry witnessed his will. Lady Mary Dudley brought the news of Edward VI's death to her sister-in-law Lady Jane Grey on Sun 9th July, and took her with her to Syon House. Lady Jane was proclaimed Queen on Mon 10th July. Sir Henry took little part in it, being still in mourning for his friend Edward VI. He deserted their cause early (though he sheltered the Dudleys at Penshurst after their fall). Lady Mary's father was executed 1553 and her brother 1554. |
Sir Henry
inherited Penshurst Place 1554.
Vice-treasurer of Ireland 1556-59:
He was
Vice-treasurer of Ireland 1556-59
(under Queen Mary,
despite his involvement with Lady Jane Grey).
He took the young Hugh O'Neill
(the future rebel) to England 1559.
K.G. 1564.
Lord Deputy of Ireland 1565-71:
He was
Lord Deputy of Ireland 1565-71
(under Elizabeth I).
He pioneered the first deliberate attempts at colonisation
in the 1560s.
He established the boundaries of Co.Roscommon
and Co.Clare 1565.
Carried out
major rebuild of
Dublin Castle
1565-78.
His wife Lady Mary was with him in Ireland.
There was an incident when
Drogheda,
where Sir Henry had left his wife in his absence,
was being threatened by the Ulster tribes.
William Sarsfield,
of Lucan Castle, Co.Dublin, came and relieved the town.
Sir Henry
knighted Sarsfield in 1566
"for having rescued Lady Sidney from the Irish".
In 1569 he crushed the first of the Desmond Rebellions
by James FitzMaurice Fitzgerald
and John Fitzedmund Fitzgerald.
Sir Henry
re-built the
Nave
of
Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin,
after it had collapsed in 1562.
He restored
Strongbow's tomb
in Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, in 1570.
His name is on the
plaque to Strongbow.
The rebellious
Connor O'Brien, 3rd Earl of Thomond
surrendered to him in Dublin in Dec 1570.
He
entertained Elizabeth I
at his property at Otford, Kent, in 1573.
Lord Deputy of Ireland 1575-78:
He was
Lord Deputy of Ireland again in 1575-78.
His reports on Ireland are an important source.
Rory Og O'More
of Leix was forced to submit to him at Kilkenny Cathedral 1575,
and was later killed 1578.
He met his son
Philip Sidney
at Kilcullen, Co.Kildare,
on 10 Aug 1576.
His arms
were erected at Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, in 1577.
He was implicated in the
Massacre of Mullaghmast,
a massacre of Irish gentry
at Mullaghmast, Co.Kildare,
in late 1577 or early 1578.
See
The Image of Ireland (1581),
an illustrated book about his campaign against Rory Og O'More.
He
declined a Barony.
At Penshurst he laid out the main (flat, open) Italian Garden in 1580s.
He
died 5 May 1586, Ludlow, Shropshire, age 56 yrs.
Roy Foster in [Modern Ireland 1600-1972, 1988]
describes him as:
"By far the ablest of Elizabeth's able band of Irish governors."
Lady Mary died 1586.
Sir Henry and Lady Mary
had issue:
Lady Mary Dudley.
From Tudor Place.
Lady Mary Dudley. Sketch of above.
From NPG.
See terms of use.
Arms of Sir Henry Sidney.
Over the gatehouse of
Ludlow Castle, Shropshire.
Note motto "Quo Fata Vocant" ("Wherever the Fates Call (I Go)").
From here.
Pat Lavelle
mentions Sir Henry Sidney
in
[PAT/10, p.6].
Sir Henry Sidney
is also mentioned on the plaque at
Strongbow's tomb
in Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin.
The Strongbow plaque inscription
says that the Strongbow tomb was destroyed in 1562
and the new Strongbow monument was erected by
"The Right Honorable Sr Henry Sydney, Knyght of the Noble Order"
in 1570.
Photo 2016.
See wide shot.
Sir Henry Sidney
is also mentioned on the
memorial to his Secretary Francis Agard
in Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin.
Inscription refers to Agard's friend, the Lord Deputy
"Henricus Sidneius".
Photo 2016.
See wide shot.
Reference to a 1594 account implicating the Lord Deputy, Sir Henry Sidney, in the massacre.
Extract from the footnotes to the above.
These span from p.1694 to p.1698.
Detail of above.
See larger
and full size.
Wider shot of above.
Photo 2007.
See full size.
From jmc4
on Flickr.
Used with permission.
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