3-070-670 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The late General Sir W. Knollys, Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod, 1883. Engraving from a photograph by Messrs. W. and D. Downey. 'The death of General Sir W. Knollys, who, as Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod, figured in the ceremonial of opening and closing the Session of Parliament, was recorded in our Obituary last week. This gentleman was in the eighty-sixth year of his age, having been born on Aug. 1, 1797. He was eldest son of General Knollys, whose claim to the Earldom of Banbury was set aside when the late Sir W. Knollys was a boy. He served with the Scots Fusilier Guards in the Peninsular War, and at the occupation of Paris; he was Governor of Guernsey in 1854, afterwards commanded the troops at Aldershott, and was Vice-President of the Council of Military Education. He became Treasurer and Comptroller of the Household of the Prince of Wales, and has held other offices at Court. Since March, 1877, he was Usher of the Black Rod at the House of Lords'. From "Illustrated London News", 1883.