Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 06.djvu/304

 KXIGHT

KNIGHT

Dr. Eli Ives and Professor Silliman. He was licensed to pi-actise medicine by the Connecticut Medical society in August. 1S13, and received the degree of M.D. from Yale in ISlS. He was pro- fessor of anatomy and physiology at Yale, 1S13- 38 ; of the principles and practice of surgery, 1S3S-61. and professor emeritus, 1S64. He also lectured on obstetrics at Yale, 1S20-29, and was a prominent lecturer on surgery. He was presi- dent of the American Medical society, 1853-54:, and was a director and president of the board of the General hospital of Connecticut. He was in- fluential in establishing the Knight military hos- pital at New Haven, Conn., in 1862. See Life by Dr. Francis Bacon (1865). He died in New Haven. Conn.. Aug. 25, 1864.

KNIQHT, Nehemiah, representative, was born in KnightsviUe, Cranston, R.L, April 13, 1746. He was educated in the common school and be- came a farmer. He was town clerk, 1773-1800, and was succeeded by his son Jeremiah Knight, who held the office, 1800-20. He was appointed by the general assembly of Rhode Island to take an active part in providing means for carrying on the war of the Revolution, and was elected a representative in the general assembly in 1783 and again in 1787. He was sheriff of Providence county for several years and was elected by the anti-Federalist party a representative in the 8th, 9th and 10th congresses, serving, 1803-08. He was married, Aug. 8, 1762, to Eleanor Hudson, of Johnston. R.I., and they had sons — Jeremiah, Daniel and Nehemiah Rice (q.v.) He died at KnightsviUe, Cranston, R.L, June 15, 1808.

KNIGHT, Nehemiah Rice, senator, was born in KnightsvUle, Cranston, R.I., Dec. 31,1780; son of Nehemiah and Eleanor (Hudson) Knight. In 1801 he was chosen to represent the town of Cranston in the general assembly of Rhode Island. He removed to Providence in 1802, and was clerk of the court of common pleas for the cotmty, 180-5-11 ; clerk of the circuit court for the district of Rhode Island, 1812-17, and collector of customs by appointment from President iladison, 1812-17. He was elected governor of Rhode Island by the anti-Federalist party and held the office by annual re-election, 1817-21. While chief executive he repeatedly recommended measures to the legislature for the establishment of public schools throughout the state and urged the neces- sity of free common schools. He was elected to the U.S. senate from Rhode Island in 1821 to fill the vacancy caused by the death of the Hon. James Burrill, and served by re-election tmtil JIarch 4. 1841. He was an active delegate to the state constitutional convention in 1843, and then retired to private life. He was president of the Roger "Williams bank of Providence, R.L, 1817- 54. He died at Providence, R.L, April 18, 1^54.

KNIQHT, Robert, manufacturer, was born in Old Warwick, R.L. Jan. 8. 1826 : son of Stephen and Weltham (Brayton) Knight. He was em- ployed in the Cranston Print works, and in other cotton factories. 1834—43, and in the latter year became a clerk in the store of his brother Benja- min at Providence, R.L He attended Pawcatuck academy, Westerly. R.L, for a short time, and taught a district school one winter. In 1847. with Zachariah Parker, he leased John H. Clark's cot- ton mill and bleachery at Arnold's bridge, and in 1850 they purchased the property, of which Mr. Knight became sole owner in 1851. He gave to the village and mill the name of Pontiac. In 1852 he purchased a half -interest in the flour and grain business of his brother. Benjamin Brayton Knight, in Providence, the firm name becoming B. B. & R. Knight. He extensively increased his cotton manufacturing interests, operating as part owner about ten mills in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. In 1867 he was elected director in the National Bank of Commerce, Providence, and in 1884 became its president. In 1874 he was chosen director in the People's Savings bank. Providence, becoming its president in 18S4. He was also elected a director in the New York, Providence and Boston Railroad company, and became prominently identified with various in- surance companies. In June, 1898, on the death of his brother, Benjamin Brayton Kxiight, he be- came the largest individual owner of cotton mills in the world, with upwards of twenty distinct establishments under his i)ersonal control. He was married, March 5, 1849, to Josephine Louisa, daughter of Royal A. and Hannah C. Webster of Providence, and had nine children — Joseph E., Robert, Webster. Franklin, Clinton, Prescott, Harriet. Sophia. Edith and Royal.

KNIQHT, Stephen Albert, manufacturer, was born in Cranston. R.L, June 5, 1828: son of Stephen and Welthan (Brayton) Knight. He removed with his parents to Coventry, P. I., in 1835, and was employed in a cotton mill, 1835-46. He became a clerk in a Providence grocery store in 1847 and in 1849 engaged with Parker & Knight at Arnold's Bridge as overseer of the spinning- room. He attended Fruit Hill academy in 1850, and in 1853, with his brothers Benjamin B. and Robert, purchased the cotton mill property at Hebronville, Mass. He was married, May 5, 1851, to Ellen, daughter of Zachariah and Eliza Par- ker of Pontiac, R.L In 1866 he removed to Prov- idence as agent of the Hebron Manufacturing company, which in that year had purchased the Dodgeville mills. In 1868 he purchased a fourth interest in the Grant mill in Providence, and in 1870, on the death of his father-in-law, Zachariah Parker, the Hebron Slanufacturing company be- came owner of the entire property, Mr. Knight