Henry Knollys (MP)
Encyclopedia
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. He was reputedly educated at Magdelen College, Oxford.
He entered Parliament in 1562 as MP for Reading
in Berkshire
and was re-elected for Reading in 1571. He served against the Northern rebels in 1569 and by 1570 had been appointed Esquire of the Body to Queen Elizabeth I. In 1572, together with his father, he became MP for Oxfordshire
.
Around 1578, he joined Sir Humphrey Gilbert in a venture designed to set up a new colony on the east coast of North America although Henry showed more interest in the more profitable business of privateering in the Spanish Caribbean. Gilbert gathered eleven heavily armed ships and a crew of 600, many of them convicted pirates especially pardoned for the voyage. Knollys soon refused to acknowledge Sir Humphrey's authority and, together with the pirate John Callis
, took three ships (later joined by more) to the Spanish Coast on a privateering expedition. The planned voyage across the Atlantic never came to pass and Gilbert complained to Sir Francis Walsingham of Knolly's “unkind and ill dealing”. In 1582 an expedition to Portugal in support of Don Antonio, the Royal claimant to the throne, foundered when Henry was ordered to return home. He later joined his distant cousin John Norreys
in the Netherlands to fight for Dutch independence but soon succumbed to wounds or disease.
He had married, on 16 July 1565, Margaret, daughter and heiress of Sir Ambrose Cave
, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. On the death of Sir Ambrose in 1568 he and his wife had inherited estates at Kingsbury, Warwickshire
where they lived when in the Midlands. They had two daughters: Elizabeth, who married Sir Henry Willoghby of Risley, Derbyshire
and Lettice, who married William Paget, 4th Baron Paget.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
courtier, privateer and Member of Parliament.
He was born the eldest 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 was reputedly educated at Magdelen College, Oxford.
He entered Parliament in 1562 as MP 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....
in Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
and was re-elected for Reading in 1571. He served against the Northern rebels in 1569 and by 1570 had been appointed Esquire of the Body to Queen Elizabeth I. In 1572, together with his father, he became MP for Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire (UK Parliament constituency)
Oxfordshire was a county constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of England then of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1885. It was represented by two Members of Parliament. In 1832 this was increased to three...
.
Around 1578, he joined Sir Humphrey Gilbert in a venture designed to set up a new colony on the east coast of North America although Henry showed more interest in the more profitable business of privateering in the Spanish Caribbean. Gilbert gathered eleven heavily armed ships and a crew of 600, many of them convicted pirates especially pardoned for the voyage. Knollys soon refused to acknowledge Sir Humphrey's authority and, together with the pirate John Callis
John Callis (pirate)
John Callis was a 16th-century Welsh pirate. He was active in South Wales from Cardiff to Haverfordwest, often selling his prizes and cargo in the villages of Laugharne and Carew in Milford Haven, only a few miles south of Little Newcastle, Wales...
, took three ships (later joined by more) to the Spanish Coast on a privateering expedition. The planned voyage across the Atlantic never came to pass and Gilbert complained to Sir Francis Walsingham of Knolly's “unkind and ill dealing”. In 1582 an expedition to Portugal in support of Don Antonio, the Royal claimant to the throne, foundered when Henry was ordered to return home. He later joined his distant cousin John Norreys
John Norreys
Sir John Norreys , also frequently spelt John Norris, was an English soldier of a Berkshire family of court gentry, the son of Henry Norris, 1st Baron Norreys a lifelong friend of Queen Elizabeth....
in the Netherlands to fight for Dutch independence but soon succumbed to wounds or disease.
He had married, on 16 July 1565, Margaret, daughter and heiress of Sir Ambrose Cave
Ambrose Cave
-Life:He was the son of Richard Cave and Margaret Saxby of Stanford, Northamptonshire and was educated at Cambridge University. He was knighted by 1525....
, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. On the death of Sir Ambrose in 1568 he and his wife had inherited estates at Kingsbury, Warwickshire
Kingsbury, Warwickshire
Kingsbury is a large village and civil parish in the North Warwickshire district of the county of Warwickshire, in the West Midlands region of England....
where they lived when in the Midlands. They had two daughters: Elizabeth, who married Sir Henry Willoghby of Risley, Derbyshire
Risley, Derbyshire
Risley is a small village and parish in Erewash in the English county of Derbyshire. It is just over four miles south of Ilkeston. Sandiacre is next door to the east.-Geography:...
and Lettice, who married William Paget, 4th Baron Paget.