John Knyvet facts for kids
Sir John Knyvet (pronounced 'Niv-it') was an important English lawyer and government official who lived a long time ago. He was a top judge, called the Chief Justice of the King's Bench, from 1365 to 1372. Later, he became the Lord Chancellor of England, which was like being the King's main advisor and head of the legal system, from 1372 to 1377.
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Sir John Knyvet's Life and Career
Sir John Knyvet was the oldest son of Richard Knyvet. His family lived in a place called Southwick in Northamptonshire, England. His mother was Joanna, who inherited land from her father, Sir John Wurth. Sir John Knyvet married a woman named Eleanor, whose father was Lord Basset of Weldon. They had four sons and one daughter. He inherited his family home, Southwick Manor, and made it even better. This historic house is still standing today!
Starting His Legal Journey
Sir John Knyvet began working as a lawyer around 1347. This means he was arguing cases in court. In 1357, he became a "Serjeant-at-law." This was a special title for experienced lawyers who could represent people in the highest courts. A few years later, on September 30, 1361, he was made a judge in the Court of Common Pleas. This court handled disagreements between ordinary people.
Becoming a Top Judge
Sir John Knyvet's career continued to grow. On October 29, 1365, he was promoted to an even higher position: Chief Justice of the King's Bench. This meant he was the main judge in the court that dealt with serious crimes and cases involving the King. He also helped in Parliament, which is like today's government. From 1362 onwards, he often helped check important requests, called "petitions," from different parts of England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland.
Serving as Lord Chancellor
In 1372, something big happened. The people in Parliament wanted the important job of Lord Chancellor to be held by someone who wasn't a church leader. So, on June 30, 1372, Sir John Knyvet was chosen to be the new Lord Chancellor. He held this very powerful job for about four and a half years. He gave important speeches at the start of Parliament meetings in 1372, 1373, and 1376. These speeches are recorded in historical documents.
In January 1377, King Edward III decided to go back to having church leaders as Chancellors. So, Sir John Knyvet was replaced by Adam de Houghton. After this, Sir John Knyvet didn't hold a judge's job again. However, he was still trusted and asked to help settle a dispute between two important noblemen. He was also one of the people who helped carry out the will of King Edward III after the King died.
Sir John Knyvet's Family and Legacy
Sir John Knyvet owned a lot of land in different parts of England, especially in Northamptonshire and East Anglia. When he passed away in 1381, his children and their families became very important in the area of Norfolk.
His children included:
- Henry Knyvet
- John Knyvet (who lived from about 1359 to 1418). He became a Member of Parliament (MP) for Huntingdonshire.
- Richard Knyvet
- Robert Knyvet (who died in 1419). He had a son named Thomas Knyvet.
- Margery Knyvet
An interesting fact about the Knyvet family is that a relative, Katherine Knyvet, became the leader (Abbess) of a place called Delapré Abbey in Northampton in 1333. Sadly, she died there in 1349 during a terrible sickness called the plague.
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