ROBERT SIDNEY, 2nd earl of Leicester of the 1618 creation (1595-1677), born on Dec. 1, 1595, was educated at Christ Church, Oxford; he was called to the bar in 1618, having already served in the army in the Netherlands during his father's govern orship of Flushing, and having entered parliament as member for Wilton in 1614. In 1616 he was given command of an English regiment in the Dutch service; and having succeeded his father as earl of Leicester in 1626, he was employed on diplomatic busi ness in Denmark in 1632, and in France from 1636 to 1641. He was then appointed lord-lieutenant of Ireland in place of the earl of Strafford, but he waited in vain for instructions from the king, and in 1643 he was compelled to resign the office without having set foot in Ireland. After his resignation of the lord-lieutenancy of Ireland, he retired into private life. In 1649 the younger children of the king were for a time committed to his care at Penshurst. He died at Penshurst on Nov. 2, 1677.
Leicester's eldest son, PHILIP, 3rd earl (1619-1698), known for the greater part of his life as Lord Lisle, became lieutenant general of Ireland under Ormonde; he strongly favoured the par liamentary cause and in 1647 he was appointed lord-lieutenant of Ireland by the parliament. Named one of Charles L's judges, he refused to take part in the trial ; but he afterwards served in Cromwell's council of state, and sat in the Protector's House of Lords. Lisle stood high in Cromwell's favour, but nevertheless obtained a pardon at the Restoration.