Francis Knollys, 1st Viscount Knollys

Francis Knollys, 1st Viscount Knollys GCB GCVO KCMG ISO PC (16 July 1837 – 15 August 1924), was a British courtier. He served as Private Secretary to the Sovereign from 1901 to 1913.

Background and education

Knollys was the son of Sir William Thomas Knollys (1797–1883), of Blount's Court at Rotherfield Peppard in Oxfordshire, and was educated in Guernsey. He entered the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, in 1851, and was commissioned into the 23rd Foot as an ensign in 1854.

Career

In the following year, however, Knollys joined the Department of the Commissioners of Audit as a junior examiner. In 1862, he became Secretary to the Treasurer to the Prince of Wales. In 1870, he was appointed Private Secretary to the Prince of Wales, an office he held until the Prince, Edward, became King in 1901. He was also Groom-in-Waiting to the Prince of Wales 1886–1901. Knollys then became Private Secretary to the Sovereign, an office he filled until 1913 (jointly with Arthur Bigge, 1st Baron Stamfordham from 1910). He was known for his loyalty and discretion in this role. He was also Gentleman Usher to Queen Victoria 1868–1901, and a Lord-in-Waiting to Queen Mary 1910–1924.

Personal life

Lord Knollys died in August 1924, aged 87.

Honours

Knollys was created a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) in 1876, and promoted to Knight Commander (KCB) in 1897 and to Knight Grand Cross (GCB) in 1908. He was also made a Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO) in 1901, a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG) in 1886, and awarded the Imperial Service Order (ISO) in 1903. In the 1902 Coronation Honours list it was announced he would be created a baron, and he was raised to the peerage as Baron Knollys, of Caversham in the County of Oxford, on 15 July 1902. He became a Privy Councillor in 1910, and in 1911 he was further honoured when he was made Viscount Knollys, of Caversham in the County of Oxford.

• Knight Commander of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath, KCB
• Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George, KCMG
• 2 February 1901: Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order, GCVO

• The London Gazette: no. 27455. p. 4587. 18 July 1902.
• The London Gazette: no. 27285. p. 1145. 15 February 1901. Retrieved 11-10-2012.