He was born in Westminster, son of Charles Knyvett and his wife Jane née Jordan; he was descended from the family of Knyvet or Knyvett of
Fundenhall, Norfolk, descendants of
Sir William Knyvett (d. 1515). He was educated at
Westminster School, and was a chorister at Westminster Abbey, under
Benjamin Cooke. He was appointed in 1770 joint organist, with
William Smethergell, of
All Hallows-by-the-Tower. Possessing a fine alto voice, he was one of the chief singers at the
Handel Commemoration of 1784, and he was appointed
Gentleman of the Chapel Royal in 1786. In 1789, in partnership with
Samuel Harrison, he directed a series of oratorio performances at
Covent Garden. In 1791, again in partnership with Harrison, and with the additional assistance of his brother William, he established at
Willis's Rooms the
Vocal Concerts, which were successfully carried on for three years. He was appointed in 1796 organist of the
Chapel Royal. In 1801, with the co-operation of his brother William, his son Charles,
Thomas Greatorex and
James Bartleman, he revived the Vocal Concerts at the
Hanover Square Rooms, but in the following year he withdrew from the management. In 1808 he resigned his post of Gentleman of the Chapel Royal, and was succeeded by his son Charles. Knyvett was a member of the
Royal Society of Musicians from 1778. He was for many years secretary to the
Noblemen and Gentlemen's Catch Club, whose meetings were held at the
Thatched House Tavern,
St James's Street, and he was a frequent visitor at the meetings of
the Madrigal Society. For one season he replaced
Joah Bates as conductor at the
Concerts of Antient Music. On 16 January 1779 he became a Freemason being initiated along with 5 other musicians in Somerset House Lodge No.2. Knyvett died in Blandford Street,
Pall Mall, on 19 January 1822.
William Thomas Parke, in
Musical Memoirs (ii, 236) wrote that he considered Knyvett "one of the best singers of glees", and "perhaps the best catch singer in England". ==Publications==