Dorothy Sidney ¹

  General Notes:

Lady Dorothy Sidney was the eldest of eight daughters of Robert Sidney, 2nd Earl of Leicester and Dorothy Percy, the ninth daughter of the Earl of Northumberland. Dorothy's parents called her "Doll" and she was their favorite child.

Lady Dorothy married Henry, 1st Earl of Sunderland & 3rd Baron Spencer, he was the son of William, 2nd Baron Spencer and Penelope in 1639. Henry had studied at Oxford, where he had received a Master of Arts degree. The couple went to France to live with Dorothy's parents, where her father was ambassador and then returned to England in 1641. Two children were born to this union: Dorothy and Robert.

Henry was killed in The Battle of Newbury. His death devastated Dorothy and she lost the baby girl she was carrying. Her physical and mental health began to plummet and she refused to leave Althorpe or see anyone. Only after her father wrote to her, did she begin to come out of her depression and misery.

Dorothy took over the running of Althorpe and ensured its protection from both warring parties. She managed to see that no devastation overtook Althorpe, aided by her husband's uncle, Sir Edward Spencer. Dorothy was responsible for the dramatic transformation in Althorpe, from Tudor to Stuart style. She had the old open courtyard in the center of the house covered with a roof and ordered the construction of the handsome wooden staircase in the Saloon.

Dorothy was persuaded to remarry again by her father. She married Robert Smythe, of Roundes, in the parish of Bidborough, Kent. Smythe was from the family of Viscounts Stangford, of Ireland. The couple had one child: Robert who became governor of Dover Castle during the reign of Charles II.

Dorothy married Henry Spencer 1st Earl of Sunderland & 3rd Baron Spencer, son of William Spencer 2nd Baron Spencer and Penelope Wriothesley, in 1639. (Henry Spencer 1st Earl of Sunderland & 3rd Baron Spencer was born on 23 Nov 1620 in Althorp, Daventry District, Northamptonshire, England, died on 20 Sep 1643 in Newbury, West Berkshire Unitary Authority, Berkshire, England and was buried in St Mary the Virgin with St John Churchyard, Great Brington, Daventry District, Northamptonshire, England.)