Algernon Sidney

Date of Birth: January 15, 1623

Zodiac Sign: Capricorn

Date of Death: December 7, 1683

Biography

Algernon Sidney was an English politician and political theorist renowned for his staunch opposition to absolute monarchy and his advocacy for republicanism. Born into the influential Sidney family, Algernon was the second son of Robert Sidney, 2nd Earl of Leicester, and Dorothy Percy. He was educated at the University of Paris and later traveled extensively across Europe. Sidney’s political career began during the English Civil War, where he initially supported the Parliamentarians against King Charles I. However, he became disillusioned with both the monarchy and the subsequent rule of Oliver Cromwell. Sidney’s most significant contribution to political thought came from his writings, particularly his work “Discourses Concerning Government,” which argued against the divine right of kings and laid the groundwork for later democratic principles. In 1683, Sidney was implicated in the Rye House Plot, a conspiracy to assassinate King Charles II and his brother James, Duke of York. Despite dubious evidence, he was tried and found guilty of treason. Sidney was executed on December 7, 1683. His writings, however, lived on and influenced later political thinkers, including those who shaped the American Constitution.

5 Interesting Facts about Algernon Sidney

1. Sidney’s political writings were used as evidence against him in his trial for treason.

2. He was an early advocate for the separation of church and state.

3. Sidney’s work “Discourses Concerning Government” was published posthumously and became a seminal text in the development of republican thought.

4. He was a member of the Long Parliament and served as a commissioner during the trial of King Charles I.

5. Sidney’s execution was widely regarded as judicial murder, contributing to his status as a martyr for liberty.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Algernon Sidney

1. “God helps those who help themselves.”

2. “All human constitutions are subject to corruption and must be kept in check by the people.”

3. “The liberty of a people consists in being governed by laws which they have made themselves.”

4. “Our lives are not our own; they belong to those who come after us.”

5. “The best government is that which teaches us to govern ourselves.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

As a 17th-century politician, Sidney did not accumulate wealth in the manner modern politicians might. His highest net worth would have been equivalent to the estates and titles he inherited from his family, which were substantial but not precisely quantifiable in contemporary terms.