Ralph Knight
Encyclopedia
Sir Ralph Knight was an English soldier and politician who sat in the House of Commons
in 1660. He served in the Parliamentary army in the English Civil War
.
Knight was the son of William Knight of Newbury, and his wife Alice Worthington. In 1643 he commanded a troop of cavalry in the Earl of Manchester's regiment of horse. He was appointed to the New Model Army
in 1645 as a captain in the cavalry regiment of Colonel Matthew Tomlinson. By 1647 he had become a major in the same regiment. He became aid-de-camp to General Monck
. In about 1650, he purchased the estate of Langold
, Yorkshire from Thomas Burton, as a residence for his wife near her relations. He was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant
for the West Riding of Yorkshire in 1653.
In 1660, Knight was elected Member of Parliament
for Morpeth
in the Convention Parliament. He was knighted on the Restoration. In 1662 he purchased the manor of Letwell
, Yorkshire. In June 1667 at the time of military emergency he was captain of a company of non-regimental horse raised from the border of Nottinghamshire and Yorkshire. The company marched to Yarmouth in case there was a Dutch invasion, but was disbanded on 16 August 1667. He became lieutenant-colonel of the Duke of Buckingham's Regiment of Foot on 12 May 1673 and in 1675 he bought the Manor of Warsop in Nottinghamshire.
Knight died at Firbeck in April 1691 and was buried there on 23 April.
Knight married firstly on 23 June 1646, Faith Dickinson, daughter of the Rev. William Dickinson, vicar of Rotherham. He married secondly, the widow of John Rolleston of Sokeholme.
House of Commons of England
The House of Commons of England was the lower house of the Parliament of England from its development in the 14th century to the union of England and Scotland in 1707, when it was replaced by the House of Commons of Great Britain...
in 1660. He served in the Parliamentary army in the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
.
Knight was the son of William Knight of Newbury, and his wife Alice Worthington. In 1643 he commanded a troop of cavalry in the Earl of Manchester's regiment of horse. He was appointed to the New Model Army
New Model Army
The New Model Army of England was formed in 1645 by the Parliamentarians in the English Civil War, and was disbanded in 1660 after the Restoration...
in 1645 as a captain in the cavalry regiment of Colonel Matthew Tomlinson. By 1647 he had become a major in the same regiment. He became aid-de-camp to General Monck
George Monck, 1st Duke of Albemarle
George Monck, 1st Duke of Albemarle, KG was an English soldier and politician and a key figure in the restoration of Charles II.-Early life and career:...
. In about 1650, he purchased the estate of Langold
Langold
Langold is a village in Bassetlaw, North Nottinghamshire. It was built to provide housing for the miners of Firbeck Colliery between 1923 and 1927, and Langold Lakes Country Park is situated on the south-western edge of the village.-History:...
, Yorkshire from Thomas Burton, as a residence for his wife near her relations. He was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
for the West Riding of Yorkshire in 1653.
In 1660, Knight was elected Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Morpeth
Morpeth (UK Parliament constituency)
Morpeth was a borough constituency centred on the town of Morpeth in Northumberland represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of England until 1707, the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800, and then the Parliament of the United Kingdom....
in the Convention Parliament. He was knighted on the Restoration. In 1662 he purchased the manor of Letwell
Letwell
Letwell is a rural village and civil parish in the Metropolitan Borough of Rotherham in South Yorkshire, England, on the border with Nottinghamshire. It lies between Dinnington and Langold, off the B6463 road. It is located at 53° 22' 40" North, 1° 9' West, at an elevation of around 75 metres above...
, Yorkshire. In June 1667 at the time of military emergency he was captain of a company of non-regimental horse raised from the border of Nottinghamshire and Yorkshire. The company marched to Yarmouth in case there was a Dutch invasion, but was disbanded on 16 August 1667. He became lieutenant-colonel of the Duke of Buckingham's Regiment of Foot on 12 May 1673 and in 1675 he bought the Manor of Warsop in Nottinghamshire.
Knight died at Firbeck in April 1691 and was buried there on 23 April.
Knight married firstly on 23 June 1646, Faith Dickinson, daughter of the Rev. William Dickinson, vicar of Rotherham. He married secondly, the widow of John Rolleston of Sokeholme.