Dominicus Kaunitz

1680

Successor to Lely: Principal Painter

After the death of Sir Peter Lely, Charles II appoints Kneller Principal Painter in Ordinary to the Crown, jointly with John Riley (other accounts date his tenure as Principal Painter in Ordinary from 1688).

1685

Daughter born: Agnes Voss (or Catherine, later Huckle)

9 November 1695

Honorary Doctor of Civil Law at Oxford

In the presence of the King, the University of Oxford confers on Kneller the honorary degree of Doctor of Civil Law.

23 January 1704

Marriage to Susanna Grave

At St Bride's Church in London he marries a widow, Susanna Grave, daughter of the Reverend John Cawley, Archdeacon of Lincoln, and granddaughter of the regicide William Cawley. The couple had no children.

1711–1716

Kneller's Academy of Painting and Drawing

He founds the Academy of Painting and Drawing on Great Queen Street in London and heads it until 1716; it is described as the first art school in Britain, and its founding directors included James Thornhill, James Gibbs and Thomas Gibson.

24 May 1715

Created a baronet

King George I creates him a hereditary baronet, “of Whitton in the County of Middlesex”.