KNOWLES BIOGRAPHIES
Sir James
KNOWLES (1831 - 1908)
English Architect and Editor
Knowles Progenitor -
???
based on article from
Wikipedia,
and Knowles research by Robert B. Noles
Additional References:
GENEALOGY
Sir
James Knowles (1831 - 1908)
Knowles Progenitor - ???
Sir James Knowles was born in London, the son of an architect, and himself trained as one at University College and in Italy. However, his preferences led him simultaneously into a literary career. In 1860 he published The Story of King Arthur. In 1867 he was introduced to Alfred Lord Tennyson, whose house, Aldworth, on Blackdown, he designed; this led to a close friendship, Knowles assisting Tennyson in business matters, and among other things helping to design scenery for The Cup, when Irving produced that play in 1880.
Knowles became intimate with a number of the most interesting men of the day,
and in 1869, with Tennyson's cooperation, he founded the Metaphysical Society,
the object of which was to attempt some intellectual rapprochement between
religion and science by getting the leading representatives of faith and unfaith
to meet and exchange views. The society formed the nucleus of the
distinguished list of contributors who supported Knowles in his capacity as an
editor. In 1870 he became editor of the Contemporary Review, but left it
in 1877 and founded the Nineteenth Century (to the title of which, in 1901, were
added the words And After). Both periodicals became very influential under
him, and formed the type of the new sort of monthly review which came to occupy
the place formerly held by the quarterlies.
In 1904 Sir James received the honour of knighthood.
Sir James Knowles died at Brighton on February 13, 1908.
