SIDNEY, ALGERNON [SSNE 4431]

Surname

SIDNEY, SYDNEY

First name

ALGERNON

Title/rank

COMMISSIONER

Nationality

ENGLISH

Social status

NOBILITY

Text source

Algernon Sydney was the son of Robert, second Earl of Leicester [SSNE 1369]. He is listed as an English envoy to Sweden, though much of his work took place at Copenhagen. He was a republican who accompanied his father to Denmark and Paris. In 1659-60 he was chief of four commissioners who mediated between Sweden and Denmark at Helsingör. He wrote to King Karl X of Sweden in August 1659 from Fredericksborg informing him that the treaty signed at the Hague in May that year between England, the Dutch and France resulted in the Dutch and England becoming mediators for Denmark-Norway and Sweden in their war. Sydney wrote twice in conjunction with Robert Honeywood, another English envoy, on behalf of English merchants who had been captured and had their goods seized by Swedes. He also wrote several times between January and June 1660.

Swedish Riksarkiv, Anglica 522; L. Bittner and L. Gross, Reportorium der diplomatischen vertreter aller lander, vol. 1, 1648-1715 (Oldenburg and Berlin, 1936), pp.183, 199; Swedish Riksarkiv, 'Svenske Sändebuds till Utländske Hof och Deras Sändebud till Sverige', 1841, p.84; G. M. Bell, A Handlist of British Diplomatic Representatives 1509-1688 (London, 1990); P. Wieselgren, De La Gardiska Archivet, part 9 (Lund, 1837), p.7; Historical Manuscripts Commission 4:5th R: Malet. A letter from him to Bulstrode Whitelocke from Denmark dated Helsingör, 13 Nov 1659 regarding English relations; DNB.

Service record

STUART KINGDOMS, DENMARK-NORWAY

Arrived 1632-01-01

Departed 1632-12-31

Capacity ENVOY, purpose DIPLOMACY

STUART KINGDOMS, FRANCE

Arrived 1636-01-01

Departed 1641-12-31

Capacity ENVOY, purpose DIPLOMACY

ENGLAND, DENMARK-NORWAY [SWEDEN]

Arrived 1659-03-11

Departed 1659-09-13

Capacity AGENT. REPUBLICAN, purpose DIPLOMACY