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The Imperial Society of Knights Bachelor was formed in 1908 and received Royal recognition in 1912. Its patron is Queen Elizabeth II. It is a registered charity and seeks to uphold the dignity of Knight Bachelor and the rights of the degree of knighthood at all times, to register every duly authenticated knighthood, and to advise members on matters relating to the degree.
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Its charitable objectives include the relief of poverty, the advancement of education, support for hospitals, the elderly, and the needy. A particular objective is to encourage Knights Bachelor within the Commonwealth to develop understanding and cooperation between the citizens of the Commonwealth.
In 1962, the society established its own chapel in the Priory Church of St Bartholomew the Great, Smithfield, London. In 2005, the chapel was moved to the crypt of St. Paul's Cathedral, London. The society's badge may be worn in the form of a brooch by wives and daughters of knights.
Publications
Periodically, the Society published lists of living recipients of awards, with the subtitle A list of the existing recipients of the honour of Knighthood together with a short account of the origin, objects and work of...the society.
The editions published by the Society included the Order of General Precedence extant in England at the time, so that the 1939-1946 edition (20th edition), and the subsequent 1949-1950 (21st edition), indicated pre-war and post-war precedence.
List of Knights Principal
- The Hon Sir Bargrave Deane (1908–1911)
- Major-General Sir Henry Mill Pellatt, CVO (1911–1923)
- The Rt Hon Sir William Bull, Bt, MP (1923–1931)
- Commander Sir Arthur Trevor Dawson, Bt (1931)
- Sir Gerald Wollaston, KCB, KCVO (1931–1957)
- The Hon Sir George Bellew, KCB, KCVO (1957–1962)
- Sir Anthony Wagner, KCB, KCVO (1962–1983)
- Sir Colin Cole, KCB, KCVO, TD (1983–1995)
- Sir Conrad Swan, KCVO (1995–2000)
- Sir Richard Gaskell (2000–2006)
- The Lord Lingfield, Kt, DL (2006–2012)
- Sir Colin Berry (2012–present)
List of Registrars
- Sir William Bull, Bt (1907–1920)
- Sir Harry North (1920–1921)
- Sir Park Goff, Bt, KC (1921–1939)
- Sir Malcolm Fraser, Bt, GBE (1939–1941)
- Sir Edwin Lutyens, OM, KCIE (1941–1944)
- Sir Thomas Lumley-Smith, DSO (1944–1960)
- Sir John Russell (1960–1978)
- Sir Arthur Driver (1978–1986)
- Sir Roger Falk, OBE (1986–1991)
- Sir Kenneth Newman, GBE, QPM (1991–1998)
- Sir Robert Balchin, DL (1998–2006)
- Alderman Sir Paul Judge (2006-2012)
- His Honour Sir Gavyn Arthur (2012-2016)