Men of Kent and Kentishmen/Sir Henry Sidney

3434140Men of Kent and Kentishmen — Sir Henry SidneyJohn Hutchinson


Sir Henry Sidney,

STATESMAN AND JUDGE,

Was born at Penshurst, which had been granted to his father, Sir William Sidney, by Edward VI. He was a student at New College, Oxford, in 1513, and was afterwards a favourite of Edward VI., who knighted him, and who, at last, expired in his arms. Queen Mary made him collector of the revenues in Ireland, and on Elizabeth's accession he became lord president of the Marches of Wales, and a knight of the Garter. In 1568 he was sent as lord deputy to Ireland. He died at Penshurst in 1586. He was a man of great integrity. He promoted the printing of the Irish Statutes, and some of his letters to his son, the famous Sir Philip, have been printed.

[See "Wood's Athenæ Oxon." by Bliss.]