Francis Knollys, 1st Viscount Knollys

Francis Knollys, 1st Viscount Knollys, GCB, GCVO, KCMG, PC, ISO (16 July 1837 – 15 August 1924), was Private Secretary to the Sovereign 1901–1913.

He was born in 1837, the son of Sir William Thomas Knollys (1797–1883) of Blount's Court at Rotherfield Peppard in Oxfordshire, and was educated in Guernsey. He entered the Royal Military College Sandhurst in 1851, and was commissioned into the 23rd Foot as an ensign in 1854. In the following year, however, he joined the Department of the Commissioners of Audit as a junior examiner.

In 1862, Knollys became Secretary to the Treasurer to the Prince of Wales. In 1870, he was appointed Private Secretary to the Prince of Wales, an office he held until the Prince, Edward, became King in 1901. He was also Groom-in-Waiting to the Prince of Wales 1886–1901. Knollys then became Private Secretary to the Sovereign, an office he filled until 1913 (jointly 1910–1913). He was known for his loyalty and discretion in this role. He was also Gentleman Usher to Queen Victoria 1868–1901, and a Lord-in-Waiting to Queen Mary 1910–1924.

He was created CB in 1876, and promoted to KCB in 1897 and GCB in 1908. He received the GCVO in 1901, the KCMG in 1886, and ISO in 1903. He became a Privy Councillor in 1910, and created Baron Knollys in 1902, and Viscount Knollys in 1911. He died in 1924.