Robert Sidney 1st Earl of Leicester 1563-1626

In 1551 [his father] Henry Sidney [aged 22] and [his mother] Mary Dudley [aged 21] were married. She the daughter of [his grandfather] John Dudley 1st Duke Northumberland [aged 47] and [his grandmother] Jane Guildford Duchess Northumberland [aged 42].

On 19th November 1563 Robert Sidney 1st Earl of Leicester was born to Henry Sidney [aged 34] and Mary Dudley [aged 33].

On 22nd February 1574 [his sister] Ambrosia Sidney [aged 9] died at Ludlow Castle [Map] where her father Henry Sidney [aged 45] was President of the Council of the Marches in Wales.

Around 1577 Robert Sidney 1st Earl of Leicester [aged 13] educated at Christ Church College, Oxford University.

On 21st April 1577 [his brother-in-law] Henry Herbert 2nd Earl Pembroke [aged 39] and [his sister] Mary Sidney Countess Pembroke [aged 15] were married. She by marriage Countess Pembroke. The difference in their ages was 23 years. He the son of William Herbert 1st Earl Pembroke and Anne Parr Countess Pembroke. They were sixth cousins.

On 23rd September 1584 Robert Sidney 1st Earl of Leicester [aged 20] and Barbara Gamage Countess Leicester [aged 21] were married. She her father's heir to his considerable fortune. He, the father, had died some twenty-five days before. The marriage took place apparently against the wishes of Queen Elizabeth I of England and Ireland [aged 51].

On 5th May 1586 [his father] Henry Sidney [aged 57] died.

On 9th August 1586 [his mother] Mary Dudley [aged 56] died.

In 1587 [his daughter] Mary Sidney Lady Wroth was born to Robert Sidney 1st Earl of Leicester [aged 23] and [his wife] Barbara Gamage Countess Leicester [aged 24].

Around 1588 Unknown Painter. Portrait of Robert Sidney 1st Earl of Leicester [aged 24].

In 1589 [his daughter] Catherine Sidney was born to Robert Sidney 1st Earl of Leicester [aged 25] and [his wife] Barbara Gamage Countess Leicester [aged 26]. She married before 1616 Lewis Mansel 2nd Baronet, son of Thomas Mansel 1st Baronet.

Around 1595 [his daughter] Philippa Sidney was born to Robert Sidney 1st Earl of Leicester [aged 31] and [his wife] Barbara Gamage Countess Leicester [aged 32]. She married June 1614 John Hobart 2nd Baronet, son of Henry Hobart 1st Baronet and Dorothy Bell Lady Hobart.

On 1st December 1595 [his son] Robert Sidney 2nd Earl of Leicester was born to Robert Sidney 1st Earl of Leicester [aged 32] and [his wife] Barbara Gamage Countess Leicester [aged 32]. He married 1615 his fifth cousin once removed Dorothy Percy Countess Leicester, daughter of Henry "Wizard Earl" Percy 9th Earl of Northumberland and Dorothy Devereux Countess Northumberland, and had issue.

On 28th November 1599 [his daughter] Barbara Sidney was born to Robert Sidney 1st Earl of Leicester [aged 36] and [his wife] Barbara Gamage Countess Leicester [aged 36]. She married Thomas Culpepper and had issue.

Before 1600 Thomas Smythe [aged 41] and [his future wife] Sarah Blount Countess Leicester [aged 17] were married. The difference in their ages was 24 years.

In 1605 Robert Sidney 1st Earl of Leicester [aged 41] was created 1st Viscount Lisle. [his wife] Barbara Gamage Countess Leicester [aged 42] by marriage Viscountess Lisle.

On 16th September 1607 Princess Mary Stewart [aged 2] died of pneumonia at the Stanwell Park Stanwell, Surrey home of Thomas Knyvet 1st Baron Knyvet [aged 62] in whose care she had been placed. As soon as Mary died, the Earl of Worcester [aged 57], the Earl of Leicester [aged 43] and the Earl of Totnes [aged 52] went to Hampton Court Palace [Map], to inform the Queen [aged 32] of her daughter's death. Seeing the three men before her, Queen Anne realized what had happened and spared the men the task of telling her.

In 1613 [his son] William Sidney died.

In June 1614 [his son-in-law] John Hobart 2nd Baronet [aged 21] and Philippa Sidney [aged 19] were married. She the daughter of Robert Sidney 1st Earl of Leicester [aged 50] and Barbara Gamage Countess Leicester [aged 51].

In 1615 Robert Sidney 2nd Earl of Leicester [aged 19] and Dorothy Percy Countess Leicester [aged 17] were married. She the daughter of Henry "Wizard Earl" Percy 9th Earl of Northumberland [aged 50] and Dorothy Devereux Countess Northumberland [aged 51]. He the son of Robert Sidney 1st Earl of Leicester [aged 51] and Barbara Gamage Countess Leicester [aged 52]. They were fifth cousin once removed.

Before 1616 [his son-in-law] Lewis Mansel 2nd Baronet [aged 21] and Catherine Sidney [aged 26] were married. She the daughter of Robert Sidney 1st Earl of Leicester [aged 52] and Barbara Gamage Countess Leicester [aged 52].

In 1616 [his daughter] Catherine Sidney [aged 27] died.

In 1616 Robert Sidney 1st Earl of Leicester [aged 52] was appointed 414th Knight of the Garter by King James I of England and Ireland and VI of Scotland [aged 49].

In 1618 Robert Sidney 1st Earl of Leicester [aged 54] was created 1st Earl of Leicester. [his wife] Barbara Gamage Countess Leicester [aged 55] by marriage Countess of Leicester.

In 1620 [his daughter] Philippa Sidney [aged 25] died.

On 24th May 1621 [his wife] Barbara Gamage Countess Leicester [aged 58] died.

On 25th September 1621 [his sister] Mary Sidney Countess Pembroke [aged 59] died of smallpox at Herbert Townhouse Aldersgate Street. Her funeral was held at St Paul's Cathedral [Map]. She was buried at Salisbury Cathedral [Map].

On 25th April 1625 Robert Sidney 1st Earl of Leicester [aged 61] and Sarah Blount Countess Leicester [aged 43] were married. She by marriage Countess of Leicester.

On 13th July 1626 Robert Sidney 1st Earl of Leicester [aged 62] died. His son Robert [aged 30] succeeded 2nd Earl of Leicester, 2nd Viscount Lisle. Dorothy Percy Countess Leicester [aged 28] by marriage Countess of Leicester.

Before 12th March 1655 [his former wife] Sarah Blount Countess Leicester [aged 73] died.

[his daughter] Elizabeth Sidney was born to Robert Sidney 1st Earl of Leicester and Barbara Gamage Countess Leicester.

[his son] William Sidney was born to Robert Sidney 1st Earl of Leicester and Barbara Gamage Countess Leicester.

[his daughter] Bridget Sidney was born to Robert Sidney 1st Earl of Leicester and Barbara Gamage Countess Leicester.

[his son] Henry Sidney was born to Robert Sidney 1st Earl of Leicester and Barbara Gamage Countess Leicester.

[his daughter] Dorothy Sidney was born to Robert Sidney 1st Earl of Leicester and Barbara Gamage Countess Leicester.

[his son] Philip Sidney was born to Robert Sidney 1st Earl of Leicester and Barbara Gamage Countess Leicester.