Robert Knollys (died 1619)
Encyclopedia
Sir Robert Knollys was an English courtier and politician who sat in the House of Commons
at various times between 1572 and 1611.
Knollys was the son of Sir Francis Knollys
, Treasurer of the Royal Household, and Catherine Carey
, Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Elizabeth I. He quickly entered the Queen's service. In 1572, he was elected Member of Parliament
for Reading
. He was Keeper of Syon House
and steward of Isleworth in 1577 and usher of Tower mint from 1577 to 1582. From about 1583, he was a J.P.
for Breconshire. He was elected MP for Reading again in 1584 and 1586. In 1587 he became gentleman of the privy chamber.
In 1589 Knollys was elected MP for Reading and Breconshire
and chose to sit for Breconshire. He became Deputy Lieutenant
in 1590 and Custos Rotulorum in about 1592. In 1593 he was re-elected MP for Breconshire. He was elected MP for Breconshire again in 1597 and 1601. By 1603, he was esquire of the body and in July 1603 was awarded Knight of the Bath. He was re-elected MP for Breconshire in 1604. He enjoyed sports and played bowls with the Earl of Shrewsbury. He took part in tilting competitions and was seriously injured in November 1602.
Knollys died in January 1619, after a fall at the house of his brother William at Caversham.
Knollys married Catherine Vaughan, daughter of Rowland Vaughan of Porthaml, Breconshire and had a daughter Catherine who married Sir Charles Vaughan
. He was brother of Edward, Francis
, Richard, William
and Henry Knollys
who were all MPs.
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...
at various times between 1572 and 1611.
Knollys was the son of Sir Francis Knollys
Francis Knollys (the elder)
Sir Francis Knollys , of Greys Court, in Oxfordshire, KG was an English courtier in the service and favour of Henry VIII, Edward VI and Elizabeth I of England, and was a Member of Parliament for a number of constituencies....
, Treasurer of the Royal Household, and Catherine Carey
Catherine Carey
Katherine Carey, often spelt Catherine Carey, after her marriage Katherine Knollys and later Lady Knollys, pronounced "Noles" Katherine Carey, often spelt Catherine Carey, after her marriage Katherine Knollys and later Lady Knollys, pronounced "Noles" Katherine Carey, often spelt Catherine Carey,...
, Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Elizabeth I. He quickly entered the Queen's service. In 1572, he 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 Reading
Reading (UK Parliament constituency)
Reading was a parliamentary borough, and later a borough constituency, represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It comprised the town of Reading in the county of Berkshire....
. He was Keeper of Syon House
Syon House
Syon House, with its 200-acre park, is situated in west London, England. It belongs to the Duke of Northumberland and is now his family's London residence...
and steward of Isleworth in 1577 and usher of Tower mint from 1577 to 1582. From about 1583, he was a J.P.
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
for Breconshire. He was elected MP for Reading again in 1584 and 1586. In 1587 he became gentleman of the privy chamber.
In 1589 Knollys was elected MP for Reading and Breconshire
Breconshire (UK Parliament constituency)
Breconshire or Brecknockshire was a constituency in Wales which returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the English Parliament, and later to the Parliament of Great Britain and of the United Kingdom, between 1542 and 1918...
and chose to sit for Breconshire. He became 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....
in 1590 and Custos Rotulorum in about 1592. In 1593 he was re-elected MP for Breconshire. He was elected MP for Breconshire again in 1597 and 1601. By 1603, he was esquire of the body and in July 1603 was awarded Knight of the Bath. He was re-elected MP for Breconshire in 1604. He enjoyed sports and played bowls with the Earl of Shrewsbury. He took part in tilting competitions and was seriously injured in November 1602.
Knollys died in January 1619, after a fall at the house of his brother William at Caversham.
Knollys married Catherine Vaughan, daughter of Rowland Vaughan of Porthaml, Breconshire and had a daughter Catherine who married Sir Charles Vaughan
Charles Vaughan (of Porthamal)
Sir Charles Vaughan was a Welsh landowner and politician who sat in the House of Commons in 1614 and 1625.Vaughan was the eldest son of Sir Walter Vaughan of Dunraven, Glamorgan, Pembrey, Carmarthenshire, and Tealstone, Wiltshire. He was knighted on 7 November 1608. In 1614, he was elected Member...
. He was brother of Edward, Francis
Francis Knollys (admiral)
Sir Francis Knollys was an English privateer and politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1575 and 1648....
, Richard, William
William Knollys, 1st Earl of Banbury
Sir William Knollys, 1st Earl of Banbury, KG, PC was an English nobleman at the court of Queen Elizabeth I and King James...
and Henry Knollys
Henry Knollys (MP)
Henry Knollys was an English courtier, privateer and Member of Parliament.He was born the eldest son of Sir Francis Knollys, Treasurer of the Royal Household, and Catherine Carey, Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Elizabeth I...
who were all MPs.