Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 31.djvu/312

 KNOX, ALEXANDER ANDREW (1818–1891), journalist and police magistrate, son of George Knox, landed proprietor in Jamaica, was born in London 5 Feb. 1818. He was educated at Blundell's school, Tiverton, whence he proceeded with a scholarship to Trinity College, Cambridge. In June 1842 he was ordered to the south for his health, and he travelled with Mrs. Shelley (the widow of the poet) and her son Percy, his college friend. The party was joined by another of Knox's Cambridge friends, Robert Leslie Ellis [q. v.], and during this interesting experience of Italian travel Knox met Trelawny, the friend of Byron and of Shelley. Owing to ill-health Knox was unable to compete for honours, but graduated B.A. in 1844 and M.A. in 1847. He was called to the bar as member of Lincoln's Inn in 1844. In 1846 he became a writer of leading articles on the staff of the ‘Times,’ and continued to write for that paper till 1860, when he accepted Sir George Cornewall Lewis's offer of the office of police magistrate at Worship Street. In 1862 he was transferred to the Marlborough Street court, and remained there till 1878, when a paralytic seizure compelled him to retire. On three occasions he received the special thanks of the home office for his magisterial services.

Knox was a man of wide culture, a good linguist, and a brilliant talker. He was a frequent guest of Dr. Paris, at whose house in London he met Faraday, Sir B. Brodie, Babbage, and other men of science. Among his intimate friends were Rajah Brooke, Admiral Sherard Osborn, Kinglake, Sir Spencer St. John, Kingsley, Thomas Mozley, Wingrove Cooke, and Miss Marianne North. He died in London 5 Oct. 1891. In 1857 he married Susan, daughter of James Armstrong, esq., of the Bengal civil service. Knox published ‘The New Playground, or Wanderings in Algeria,’ in 1881. Besides his work on the ‘Times,’ he contributed articles to the ‘Edinburgh Review,’ ‘Blackwood,’ and many other periodicals.

 KNOX, ANDREW (1559–1633), bishop of Raphoe, the second son of John Knox of Ranfurly in Renfrewshire, was born in 1559. He was educated at the university of Glasgow, where he graduated M.A. in 1579. In 1581 he was ordained minister of Lochwinnoch in Renfrewshire, and in 1581 was translated to the abbey church of Paisley. On 6 March 1589-90 he was appointed on a commission of select clergymen to promote subscription to the confession of faith and covenant over the whole kingdom. In December 1592 he was instrumental in arresting George Kerr on the Isle of Cumray as he was on the point of sailing for Spain, and was thereby the means of bringing to light and frustrating on the eve of its execution the dangerous conspiracy of the Earls of Huntly, Errol, and Angus. In 1597 he was appointed a commissioner, with others whom he thought 'meitest to employ,' to seek and apprehend 'all excommunicated papists, jesuitis, preistis and suspect trafficquaris with the King of Spayne, and having in the execution of his office accidentally caused the death by drowning of Hew Barclay of Ladyland, who had intended to capture and fortify Ailsa Craig against the coming of the Spaniards, he was by parliament exonerated from all consequences arising therefrom, and commended for his 'loyall and gud service to his Majestie and his cuntry' (Acta Parl. Scot. iv, 148). About this time Knox, who appears to have been of a contentious disposition, was involved in several discreditable disputes with his fellow-citizens (Genealogical Memoirs of the Family of Knox, p. 11; Registers of the Privy Council, v. 171, vii. 52). During the course of one of them Knox so far forgot himself as to strike his adversary, George Stewart, burgess of Paisley, in public court. The outrage was reported to the presbytery. He was suspended 4 Oct. 1604, and was ordered to do public penance in his church on Sunday the 19th following. 'This being done, the bailies and sum of the honest men of the paroch sall receive him be the hand' (Genealogical Memoirs, p. 12). On 2 April 1606 (the episcopacy having been restored in Scotland) Knox was created bishop of the Isles, and having obtained leave from the presbytery he immediately proceeded to his diocese. On 31 July he was commissioned along with others 'to meit with David, Lord Scone, comptroller, and hear the offers made by the inhabitants of the Isles and the Highlands anent their obedience and suritie for his Majesties rents.' In January 1606-7 he was appointed constant moderator of the presbytery of the Isles, and on 4 June he took the oath of allegiance. His absence from his charge at Paisley causing some inconvenience, the presbytery sugggested the appointment of a colleague, but his parishioners would only accept the proposal if 'he would altogether denude himself of the bishopric and tak to the ministerie.' Knox preferred to resign, and on 12 Nov. 1607 he was relieved of his charge.

In accordance with King James's intention to reform the Western Isles and 