Joseph Knibb, an English clockmaker, was born in 1640 in Claydon, Oxfordshire.
He was considered as the finest horologist of his time, according to author Herbert Cescinsky, a renowned specialist on English clocks.
Joseph was the fifth son of Thomas Knibb, yeoman of Claydon, and was a relative of clockmaker Samuel Knibb, with whom he apprenticed in the year 1655.
After serving under Samuel for 7 years, Joseph moved to Oxford in 1663, the same year Samuel moved to London.
Knibb established his shop at St Clement's, Oxford, far from the city's boundaries. He relocated to Holywell Street, in 1665 or 1666. He soon built up a good reputation for himself and he supplied a turret clock for Windsor Castle in 1677. The payments were made to him in 1682 on behalf of King Charles II. It is the earliest surviving anchor escapement clock, and it may be the first of its kind ever made.
He started his company at the Dyal in Fleet Street, near Serjeant's Inn, and then moved to the House at the Dyal in Suffolk Street.
In August 1684, he was elected to work as a steward at the Clockmakers Company, and in July 1689, he was appointed as an assistant.
In 1697, he left London and moved to Hanslope, Buckinghamshire, where he continued to build clocks until 1711.
Joseph Knibb is known for his art in terms of aesthetic beauty and simplicity.
His abilities were recognised when he was appointed clockmaker to both Charles II and James II.