John Knyvet

Sir John Knyvet (died 16 February 1381) was an English lawyer and administrator. He was Chief Justice of the King's Bench from 1365 to 1372, and Lord Chancellor of England from 1372 to 1377.

Life Knyvett was eldest son of Richard Knyvet of Southwick, Northamptonshire, and a keeper of Rockingham Forest. His mother was Joanna, a daughter and the heiress of John Wurth. He married Eleanor, daughter of Ralph, Lord Basset of Weldon, and they had four sons and a daughter. He owned and improved Southwick Manor, which he inherited from his father; the house still survives today.

Knyvet was practicing in the courts as early as 1347; in 1354 he was a Serjeant-at-law, and on 24 June 1361 was appointed a justice of the Court of Common Pleas. On 29 October 1365 he was appointed Chief Justice of the King's bench. In 1362, he served as a "trier of petitions" for Aquitaine and other lands overseas for Parliament. In future years until 1380, he continued to perform as trier for England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland, except while he was Chancellor. He became M.P. for Huntingdonshire, and married Joan Botetort. Robert Knyvet (d. 1419), of Rayleigh, Essex. Richard Knyvet Henry Knyvet Ralph Knyvet Margery Knyvet