Sir George Hodges Knox, CMG, VD (17 December 1885 – 11 July 1960) was an Australian politician, orchardist and military officer. The City of Knox is named after him.
Sir George Hodges Knox | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Speaker of the Victorian Legislative Assembly | |
| In office 21 October 1942 – 9 October 1947 | |
| Preceded by | Bill Slater |
| Succeeded by | Sir Thomas Maltby |
| Member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly for Scoresby | |
| In office 10 November 1945 – 11 July 1960 | |
| Preceded by | New division |
| Succeeded by | Bill Borthwick |
| Member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly for Upper Yarra | |
| In office 9 April 1927 – October 1945 | |
| Preceded by | New division |
| Succeeded by | Division abolished |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 17 December 1885 Prahran, Victoria |
| Died | 11 July 1960 (aged 74) Ferntree Gully, Victoria |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Political party | Nationalist Party (1918–31) United Australia Party (1931–45) Liberal Party (1945–60) |
| Spouses | Kathleen Purves MacPherson
(m. 1909; div. 1919)Ada Victoria Harris (m. 1921) |
| Parent |
|
| Education | Scotch College, Melbourne |
| Occupation | Engineer, soldier, orchardist, politician |
| Civilian awards | Knight Bachelor |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Australia |
| Branch/service | Australian Army |
| Years of service | 1909–1942 |
| Rank | Brigadier |
| Commands | Queenscliff-Nepean Covering Force (1942) 2nd Infantry Brigade (1940–42) 5th Battalion (1939–40) 52nd Battalion (1922–27) 48th Battalion (1921–22) No. 1 Command Depot (1916–18) 23rd Battalion (1915–16) |
| Battles/wars | First World War Second World War |
| Military awards | Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers' Decoration Mentioned in Despatches (2) |
Knox was born in the Melbourne suburb of Prahran on 17 December 1885 and educated at Scotch College, Melbourne. He was the son of William Knox, who had been a member of the Victorian Legislative Council between 1897 and 1901, and the member for Kooyong in the House of Representatives.[1]
Knox began his working life as an electrical engineer. He married Kathleen Purves MacPherson in 1909. Soon after, he moved to Beaconsfield, Victoria, to establish an orchard. He joined the Citizen Military Forces in 1909 and served during the First World War, commanding the 23rd Battalion. He divorced in 1919. In 1920 he moved to Ferntree Gully, Victoria. He married Ada Victoria Harris in 1921. He was elected to the Fern Tree Gully Shire Council in 1923.[1]
Knox won the Victorian Legislative Assembly seat for Upper Yarra in 1927 for the Nationalist Party. He became Speaker of the Victorian Legislative Assembly in 1942 and remained there until 1947. Between 1945 and 1960 he held the seat of Scoresby.[1]
Notes edit
- ^ a b c Browne, Geoff (1983). "Knox, Sir George Hodges (1885–1960)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISSN 1833-7538. Retrieved 23 November 2007.