Family and Education

b. 15 Oct. 1694, 1st surv. s. of Charles Knollys, titular 4th Earl of Banbury, by Elizabeth, da. of Michael Lister of Burwell, Lincs. m. 1st cos, Mary Catherine, da. of John Law, director gen. of the French finances, by Catherine, da. of Nicholas Knollys, titular 3rd Earl of Banbury.

Offices Held

Ensign Col. Pocock’s regt. 1715; cornet 2 Drag. Gds. 1718, lt. 1727; 2nd maj. 1st tp. Life Gds. 1737-d.

Biography

Knollys claimed to be descended from William Knollys, M.P., 1st Earl of Banbury, comptroller of the Household to Queen Elizabeth. His father, who had repeatedly petitioned in vain for a writ of summons to the House of Lords, called himself and was known as the Earl of Banbury, Knollys assuming the courtesy title of Viscount Wallingford.1 Unsuccessful at a by-election for Banbury in January 1730 created by the succession to the peerage of his friend Francis North,2 he was returned at a by-election in 1733, but no votes of his are recorded in that Parliament. Re-elected in 1734, he voted with the Administration on the Spanish convention in 1739 and on the place bill in 1740. He died v.p. 6 June 1740.

Ref Volumes: 1715-1754

Author: Eveline Cruickshanks

Notes

• 1. See CP for the Banbury peerage case.
• 2. He named North in his will and appointed him his executor, PCC 190 Browne.