Sir Richard Reynell (died before 1213) ("alias" Reinell, Reynolds, etc), of Pitney (anciently "Pyttney, Peteneya", eyc) in the county of Somerset, Sheriff of Devon in 1191-4, was a knight who lived during the successive reigns of Kings Henry II (1154-1189), Richard I (1189-1199) and John (1199-1216).
Career.
During the absence of King Richard I on crusade in the Holy Land, in 1191 he was given the custody of the royal fortresses of Exeter Castle in Devon and of Launceston Castle in Cornwall. These castles he stoutly defended against John, Count of Mortain, the king's younger brother, who in the monarch's absence endeavoured to usurp the sovereign power. He served as Sheriff of Devon from 1191-4. Following the death of King Richard I in 1199, the throne was inherited by his younger brother King John (1199-1216), who remembered the opposition he had received from Richard Reynell and deprived him of his estates at Pitney.
Marriage and children.
He was succeeded by his son: 