John Darcy, 1st Baron Darcy de Knayth

Who was John Darcy, 1st Baron Darcy de Knayth?

John Darcy, 1st Baron Darcy de Knayth, was an English peer.

He was born circa 1280, probably at Knaith, Lincolnshire, the son of Roger Darcy and Isabel D’Aton.

He became one of the most trusted advisors to King Edward III and was appointed High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and the Royal Forests in 1319, High Sheriff of Lancashire in 1323 and High Sheriff of Yorkshire in 1327. He served as Member of Parliament for Nottinghamshire in 1320.

He was steward to the king and then chamberlain. In 1339 he was appointed Lord Justice of Ireland and was summoned to Parliament in 1331, 1333 and 1341 as "Johanni Darcy le Cosin". In 1342 he joined the Earl of Northampton on an expedition to Flanders and on his return was made Constable of Nottingham Castle and of the Tower of London. He took part in a number of wars against the Scots and French and fought at the Battle of Crecy in 1346, being sent home by the king to announce the victory in Parliament. He was created the first Lord Darcy of Knayth.

He died in 1347 and he was buried at Gisborough Priory.