Richard Knightley (died 1639)

Richard Knightley MP, JP
Knightley was a founder of the Providence Island colony, now Providencia, Colombia
Member of Parliament for Northamptonshire 1621-1625
In office March 1628 – March 1629
Monarch	Charles I
Sheriff of Northamptonshire
In office 1626–1626
Personal details
Born	(1593-06-03)3 June 1593 Preston Capes, Northamptonshire
Died	8 November 1639(1639-11-08) (aged 46) Fawsley Hall
Resting place	St Mary's, Fawsley[1]
Nationality	English
Spouse	Bridget Lucy (1614–death)
Relations	Sir Richard Knightley (1533-1615); Sir Valentine Knightley
Children	None
Parent(s)	Edward Knightley (1562–1598); Mary Coles (1577-1610)
Alma mater	Gray's Inn
Occupation	Politician and Puritan activist

Richard Knightley (3 June 1593 – 8 November 1639) was an English lawyer and politician, who was a Member of Parliament, and Sheriff of Northamptonshire in 1626.

Although not as well known as John Pym, or his neighbour and friend, John Hampden, he was a long-time, high-profile opponent of the policies of Charles I. In 1630, he was a founder of the Puritan-backed Providence Island colony, which provided an organisational structure for what became the Parliamentary opposition prior to the 1642 to 1646 First English Civil War.

He died in September 1639, without children.