The rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. It is the rank of a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not as a member of one of the organised Orders of Chivalry. Knights Bachelor are the most ancient sort of British knight (the rank existed during the reign of King Henry III (1 October 1207 – 16 November 1272)), but Knights Bachelor rank below knights of the various orders. There is no female counterpart; women des...
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The rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. It is the rank of a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not as a member of one of the organised Orders of Chivalry. Knights Bachelor are the most ancient sort of British knight (the rank existed during the reign of King Henry III (1 October 1207 – 16 November 1272)), but Knights Bachelor rank below knights of the various orders. There is no female counterpart; women deserving an honour of this rank are appointed Dame Commanders of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) instead.
It is generally awarded for public service; amongst its recipients are all male judges of the High Court of England and Wales. It is possible to be a junior member of an order of knighthood and a Knight Bachelor without being a knight of that order; this situation has become rather common, especially among those recognised for achievements in entertainment. For instance, Sir George Martin and Sir Alex Ferguson are Commander of the...
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