KNIGHT, William (?1668-1721), of West Dean, nr. Midhurst, Suss.

Constituency	Dates
Midhurst	1715 – 26 Oct. 1721

Family and Education

b. ?1668, s. of Edward Woodward of Fosters, Surr. by Elizabeth, da. of Sir Christopher Lewknor of West Dean. educ. Ch. Ch. Oxf. 20 Nov. 1685, aged 17. m. 1st cos. Elizabeth Knight (formerly Martin), da. and h. of Michael Martin of Eynsham, Oxon. by Francis, da. and coh. of Sir Christopher Lewknor of West Dean; cos. and eventually h. of Sir Richard Knight of Chawton, Hants, assuming name of Knight. She was h. of her 1st cos. once removed, John Lewknor, M.P., of West Dean. He took the name of Knight on his marriage, which was s.p. suc. fa. 1702.

Offices Held

Sheriff, Surr. 1702 – 03, Suss. 1709–10.

Address

Main residence: West Dean, nr. Midhurst, Suss.

biography text

William Knight married the heiress of the Lewknors, who owned the manor of West Dean, carrying an interest at Midhurst, for which he was returned as a Tory. He was absent from the vote on the septennial bill in 1716, but voted against the repeal of the Occasional Conformity and Schism Acts and the peerage bill in 1719. He died 26 Oct. 1721, leaving all his estates to his wife, who later married Bulstrode Peachey.

Author

J.B.L.

Volume

Commons 1715-1754