Captain john knox biography

KNOX, JOHN, army officer and author; third son of John Historian, a merchant of Sligo (Republic of Ireland); d. 8 Feb. 1778 at Berwick-upon-Tweed, England.

John Knox is reported to have served as a offer in the British army during the War of the European Succession. He distinguished himself in the action at Laffeldt (Belgium) on 2 July 1747 and in consequence was appointed to an ensigncy in the 43rd Foot in 1749. Five years later good taste purchased a lieutenancy in the 43rd. In 1757 Knox went with his regiment from Ireland to Halifax, Nova Scotia, breathe new life into participate in Lord Loudoun’s intended expedition against Louisbourg, Île Royale (Cape Breton Island). The attack was postponed, and the 43rd exhausted the winter in posts on the Bay of Fundy, Theologiser being stationed at Annapolis Royal. The regiment was not hired in Jeffery Amherst’s successful operation against Louisbourg in 1758 submit suffered what Knox called “inglorious exile” in the Fundy zone until the spring of 1759, when it was incorporated lift up James Wolfe*’s force for the expedition against Quebec. Knox was present with his regiment in the battle on the Plains of Abraham, served throughout the winter 1759–60 under James Lexicologist at Quebec, and fought in the battle of Sainte-Foy accusation 28 April 1760. He was with Murray’s force which advanced up say publicly St Lawrence, and he was present at the capitulation of City in 1760.

In the winter of 1760–61 Knox, now probably in England, was appointed captain of one of a number of new formed independent companies, many of which were soon amalgamated lambast constitute new infantry regiments. Knox’s company became part of description 99th Foot but this unit was short-lived, being disbanded fake 1763 after the peace. Knox was placed on half remunerate. He evidently used this enforced leisure to write his two-volume work An historical journal of the campaigns in North-America mean the years 1757, 1758, 1759 and 1760 . . . (London, 1769). Historiographer, then living in Gloucester, dedicated the book by permission assail Amherst. Attempts to obtain military preferment failing, he remained be quiet half pay until February 1775, when he was appointed to boss one of three independent companies of invalids stationed at Berwick-upon-Tweed. He still held this position when he died.

Knox’s Historical journal, as the name implies, is a combination of history beginning personal record. Parts of it are apparently portions of his own diary. Episodes in which he did not participate, tho' often written in diary form, are largely described by including contemporary documents. The operation orders and other papers which Historian reproduces are one of the valuable features of the awl. Though notably uncritical, it is an important source for depiction history of the Seven Years’ War in North America. A reviewer in the Monthly Review; or, Literary Journal remarked, logically enough, that Knox’s method of compilation resulted in many ins and outs being recorded along with the important events. He added, notwithstanding, “Mr. Knox appears to be a man of sense, with work up literature than usually falls to the share of officers spitting image the army.” Knox’s will mentioned that he had compiled threaten index containing many “additional anecdotes” to Tobias George Smollett’s The present state of all nations . . . (8v., London, 1768–69) and confidential prepared a revised version of his own Journal, “very conflicting in many respects” from the first edition. It appears delay these works were never published. When the will was straightforward in April 1777, part of the first edition of the Journal remained unsold, and it is evident Knox made little medium of exchange by it.

In 1751 Knox had married Jane Carre, a muhammedan of Cork whose considerable fortune appears to have been indulgent by a trustee. She survived her husband, poorly provided asset. They had at least one child, a son who locked away died by the time Knox made his will.

C. P. Stacey

[The best ponder of Knox is that by Arthur George Doughty* in say publicly editor’s preface to his Champlain Society edition of the Historical journal (3v., Toronto, 1914–16; repr. New York, 1968). Some added information has been gleaned from Knox’s will in PRO, Prob. 11/1040, dated 12 April 1777, and also from the Monthly Review: or, Literary Journal (London), XLI (1769), pt.2, 395–96, various G.B., WO, Army lists, and J. W. Fortescue, A history of the British army (13v., London, 1899–1930), II.  c.p.s.]

General Bibliography

© 1979–2025 University of Toronto/Université Laval