Henry Knollys
Encyclopedia
Sir Henry Knollys K.C.V.O.
(20 June 1840 – 1 March 1930) was firstly an officer in the Royal Artillery, British Army, and, later, a private secretary to a member of the British Royal Family.
A brother of Francis Knollys, 1st Viscount Knollys
and of the Hon. Charlotte Knollys
. He was for many years Private Secretary successively to King Edward and to King George, and for years the devoted friend and servant of Queen Alexandra, he was the third and last surviving son of General the Right Hon. Sir William Thomas Knollys and grandson of General William Knollys, titular Earl of Banbury
, who discontinued the use of the title in 1813, in consequence of a resolution in the House of Lords adverse to his claim. Henry Knollys was born on June 20, 1840, was educated at Westminster School
, and joined the Royal Artillery
from Woolwich in 1860. He was on the staff of General Sir James Scarlett
and of General Sir Hope Grant
, and was subsequently Brigade Major, R.A., Aldershot, and D.A.Q.M.G., Northern District. From 1889 to 1891 he commanded the R.A. in South Africa.
In 1896 he was appointed Private Secretary and Comptroller
to the Princess Maud of Wales
on her marriage to Prince Charles of Denmark
, and was continued in that office when her Royal Highness became Queen of Norway. He retired in 1919. He was created M.V.O. in 1901, C.V.O. in 1905, and K.C.V.O in 1906. He also held the Danish Order of the Dannebrog
and the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav. Sir Henry Knollys was the biographer of his old chief, Sir Hope Grant, with whom he wrote "Incidents in the Sepoy War" and "Incidents in the China War." He was also the author of "From Sedan to Saarbruck," "Sketches of Life in Japan," and "English Life in China." From time to time Sir Henry Knollys contributed interesting letters to The Times, notably one to the discussion on the circumstances of the Prince Imperial's
death. He related that he had seen the Prince's mount, a grey gelding about 15.3 hands high, then in the possession of Colonel Southey, who explained that the unusual height of the horse had prevented the Prince from mounting quickly enough. He was twice married, but left no issue.
Colonel Sir Henry Knollys, died at Bournemouth
, Hampshire, on March 1 in his 90th year. The funeral service was held at Holy Trinity, Brompton, on Friday 7 March, and the interment was at Highgate Cemetery.
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
(20 June 1840 – 1 March 1930) was firstly an officer in the Royal Artillery, British Army, and, later, a private secretary to a member of the British Royal Family.
A brother of Francis Knollys, 1st Viscount Knollys
Francis Knollys, 1st Viscount Knollys
Francis Knollys, 1st Viscount Knollys, GCB, GCVO, KCMG, PC, ISO , was Private Secretary to the Sovereign 1901–1913....
and of the Hon. Charlotte Knollys
Charlotte Knollys
Elizabeth Charlotte Knollys was a Lady of the Bedchamber, and the first woman private secretary, to Princess Alexandra of Denmark, later Queen Alexandra of the United Kingdom, consort of Edward VII of the United Kingdom.-Biography:...
. He was for many years Private Secretary successively to King Edward and to King George, and for years the devoted friend and servant of Queen Alexandra, he was the third and last surviving son of General the Right Hon. Sir William Thomas Knollys and grandson of General William Knollys, titular Earl of Banbury
Earl of Banbury
Earl of Banbury was a title in the Peerage of England. It was created in 1626 for William Knollys. He had already been created Baron Knollys in 1603 and Viscount Wallingford in 1616, both in the Peerage of England. The titles are considered to have become extinct on his death in 1632. However, the...
, who discontinued the use of the title in 1813, in consequence of a resolution in the House of Lords adverse to his claim. Henry Knollys was born on June 20, 1840, was educated at Westminster School
Westminster School
The Royal College of St. Peter in Westminster, almost always known as Westminster School, is one of Britain's leading independent schools, with the highest Oxford and Cambridge acceptance rate of any secondary school or college in Britain...
, and joined the Royal Artillery
Royal Artillery
The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
from Woolwich in 1860. He was on the staff of General Sir James Scarlett
James Yorke Scarlett
General Sir James Yorke Scarlett, GCB was a British general and hero of the Crimean War.-Early life:The son of the 1st Baron Abinger, and educated at Eton and Trinity College, Cambridge, Scarlett entered the army as a cornet in 1818 and in 1830 became a major in the 5th Dragoon Guards...
and of General Sir Hope Grant
James Hope Grant
General Sir James Hope Grant GCB , British general, was the fifth and youngest son of Francis Grant of Kilgraston, Perthshire, and brother of Sir Francis Grant, President of the Royal Academy.-Military career:...
, and was subsequently Brigade Major, R.A., Aldershot, and D.A.Q.M.G., Northern District. From 1889 to 1891 he commanded the R.A. in South Africa.
In 1896 he was appointed Private Secretary and Comptroller
Comptroller
A comptroller is a management level position responsible for supervising the quality of accounting and financial reporting of an organization.In British government, the Comptroller General or Comptroller and Auditor General is in most countries the external auditor of the budget execution of the...
to the Princess Maud of Wales
Maud of Wales
Princess Maud of Wales was Queen of Norway as spouse of King Haakon VII. She was a member of the British Royal Family as the youngest daughter of Edward VII and Alexandra of Denmark and granddaughter of Queen Victoria and also of Christian IX of Denmark. She was the younger sister of George V...
on her marriage to Prince Charles of Denmark
Haakon VII of Norway
Haakon VII , known as Prince Carl of Denmark until 1905, was the first king of Norway after the 1905 dissolution of the personal union with Sweden. He was a member of the House of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg...
, and was continued in that office when her Royal Highness became Queen of Norway. He retired in 1919. He was created M.V.O. in 1901, C.V.O. in 1905, and K.C.V.O in 1906. He also held the Danish Order of the Dannebrog
Order of the Dannebrog
The Order of the Dannebrog is an Order of Denmark, instituted in 1671 by Christian V. It resulted from a move in 1660 to break the absolutism of the nobility. The Order was only to comprise 50 noble Knights in one class plus the Master of the Order, i.e. the Danish monarch, and his sons...
and the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav. Sir Henry Knollys was the biographer of his old chief, Sir Hope Grant, with whom he wrote "Incidents in the Sepoy War" and "Incidents in the China War." He was also the author of "From Sedan to Saarbruck," "Sketches of Life in Japan," and "English Life in China." From time to time Sir Henry Knollys contributed interesting letters to The Times, notably one to the discussion on the circumstances of the Prince Imperial's
Napoléon Eugène, Prince Imperial
Napoléon, Prince Imperial, , Prince Imperial, Fils de France, was the only child of Emperor Napoleon III of France and his Empress consort Eugénie de Montijo...
death. He related that he had seen the Prince's mount, a grey gelding about 15.3 hands high, then in the possession of Colonel Southey, who explained that the unusual height of the horse had prevented the Prince from mounting quickly enough. He was twice married, but left no issue.
Colonel Sir Henry Knollys, died at Bournemouth
Bournemouth
Bournemouth is a large coastal resort town in the ceremonial county of Dorset, England. According to the 2001 Census the town has a population of 163,444, making it the largest settlement in Dorset. It is also the largest settlement between Southampton and Plymouth...
, Hampshire, on March 1 in his 90th year. The funeral service was held at Holy Trinity, Brompton, on Friday 7 March, and the interment was at Highgate Cemetery.