Robert Knollys (politician died 1619)

Sir Robert Knollys KB (1547^[1] 1619 or 1626^[2]) was an English courtier and politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1572 and 1611.

Life

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. He grew up in Rotherfield Greys in Oxfordshire and Reading in Berkshire. 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.^[3]

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.^[3]

Knollys died in January 1619, after a fall at the house of his brother William at Caversham.^[3]

Knollys married Catherine Vaughan, daughter of Rowland Vaughan of Porthamel in Brecknockshire and had two daughters: Frances (sometimes erroneously called Catherine) who married Sir Charles Vaughan and Lettice who married Framlingham Gawdy, the High Sheriff of Norfolk.^[4] He was brother of Edward, Francis, Richard, William and Henry Knollys who were all MPs.^[3]

Ancestry

Ancestors of Robert Knollys (politician died 1619)

Sir Richard Knollys               Robert Knollys                       Margaret D'Oyley               Sir Robert Knollys                             Sir JohnTroutbeck               Elizabeth Troutbeck                       Margaret Hulse               Sir Francis Knollys                                   Sir Richard Penystone               Sir Thomas Penystone                       Margaret Herris               Lettice Penystone                             Richard Bulstrode               Alice Bulstrode                       Alice Knyffe               Sir Robert Knollys                                         Sir William Carey               Sir Thomas Carey                       Alice Furford               Sir William Carey                             Sir Robert Spencer               Margaret Spencer                       Eleanor Beaufort               Catherine Carey                                   William Boleyn               Thomas Boleyn, 1st Earl of Wiltshire                       Lady Margaret Butler               Mary Boleyn                             Thomas Howard, 2nd Duke of Norfolk               Lady Elizabeth Howard                       Elizabeth Tilney

References

1. http://thepeerage.com/p34149.htm#i341489 gives 1550 as the year of his birth.
2. http://thepeerage.com/p34149.htm#i341489 gives 1625 as the year of his death.
3. History of Parliament Online – Robert Knollys
4. Ford, David Nash (2008). "Sir Robert Knollys (d. 1619)". Royal Berkshire History. Nash Ford Publishing. Retrieved 28 January 2012.