Background
He was eldest son of Nicholas Sidney, by Anne, sister of Sir William Brandon.
He was eldest son of Nicholas Sidney, by Anne, sister of Sir William Brandon.
In 1511 he accompanied Thomas Darcy, 1st Baron Darcy de Darcy into Spain as a volunteer against the Moors, and when Darcy, finding his assistance not required, returned almost immediately to England, Sidney and several of his companions remained behind in order to see Madrid. He was hospitably entertained by King Ferdinand, but declined the honour of knighthood from him. And shortly afterwards returned home through France.
As captain of the ‘Great Bark’ he took part in the naval operations before Brest in April 1513, and later in the year commanded the right wing of the English army at the battle of Flodden.
He was knighted for his services, and on 23 March 1514 obtained a grant in tail male of the lordship of Kingston-upon-Hull and the manor of Myton forfeited by the attainder of Edmund de la Pole. In the following summer he again went to France, charged with the delicate task of announcing the approaching second marriage of the Princess Mary, to the Duke of Suffolk.
He accompanied the king to the Field of the Cloth of Gold in 1520, and in 1523, during the war with France, took part in the expedition commanded by the Duke of Suffolk. In March 1538 he was appointed tutor and steward of the household to Prince Edward.
In 1539 he received a large grant of lands in Kent and Sussex in exchange for those held by him in York and Lincoln.
Sidney died at Penshurst on 10 February 1554, and was buried in the parish church. Sidney married Anne Pakenham, daughter of Sir Hugh Pakenham, (widow of Thomas Fitzwilliam, elder brother of William FitzWilliam, 1st Earl of Southampton). Mary (d 10 February 1542), eldest daughter, who married Sir William Dormer of Wing, Buckinghamshire,
Lucy, who married Sir James Harington of Exton Hall, Rutland;
Anne, who married Sir William Fitzwilliam of Milton, Northamptonshire, some time lord deputy of Ireland.
Frances, who married of Thomas Radcliffe, 3rd Earl of Sussex.