Anthony Knyvett

Who is Anthony Knyvett?

Sir Anthony Knyvett was an English courtier during the reign of King Henry VIII.

He was born in London, the son of Charles Knyvett, who was in the retinue of the Duke of Norfolk and Lord Berners the Deputy of Calais. He was Lieutenant of the Tower of London and is mentioned in Foxe's Book of Martyrs for refusing to continue torturing the Protestant Anne Askew on the rack. He was made Governor of Portsmouth in 1544 and oversaw the building of Southsea Castle in that year.

In 1554, he joined Wyatt's Rebellion and was routed at the Battle of Hartley. He was executed at the Tower of London on 1 March 1554.