Knox, Ronald Arbuthnott, 1888-1957

Ronald A. Knox was born in Knibworth, Leicestershire on Feb. 17, 1888 to Ellen Penelope French and Rev. Edmund Arbuthnott Knox. He completed his formal education at Eton College and Balliol College, Oxford in 1910. He was appointed chaplain at Trinity College in 1912, but left in 1917 when he converted to Roman Catholicism. He served as Roman Catholic chaplain to the university from 1926-1939 and was appointed as a prelate by the pope in 1936. He was a prolific writer, writing both religious commentaries and texts and literary commentaries and works. He translated the St. Jerome Latin Vulgate Bible into English, as well as the Old and New Testaments in 1944 and 1945 respectively. Among his religious articles are The belief of Catholics and A spiritual Aeneid. Although he wrote only six novels, including The viaduct murder and The footsteps at the Lock, his writings are well known and he was a prominent member of the Detection Club.

From the description of Ronald Knox papers, 1894-1970 (bulk 1900-1962). (Claremont Colleges Library). WorldCat record id: 171211220

English Catholic priest, scholar, and author.

Knox was educated at Eton and Oxford. He converted to Catholicism and served as Catholic chaplain at Oxford from 1926 to 1939. He published a new translation of the Bible, essays, detective stories, and other works.

From the description of Ronald Knox Papers, 1914-[ca. 1918]. (Boston College). WorldCat record id: 32876065

Biography / Administrative History

Ronald A. Knox was born in Knibworth, Leicestershire on February 17, 1888 to Ellen Penelope French and the Reverend Edmund Arbuthnott Knox. After completing his formal education at Eton College and Balliol College, Oxford in 1910, Monsignor Knox was appointed as chaplain at Trinity College. Later in 1917, Ronald Knox converted to Roman Catholicism. He served as a chaplain at the University of Oxford and was later appointed as a prelate by the Pope in 1936. Monsignor Knox was a prolific writer both in religious commentaries and texts as well as literature. He translated the St. Jerome Latin Vulgate Bible into English as well as the Old and New Testatment in 1944 and 1945 respectively. He wrote a number of articles with religious themes such as The Belief of Catholics and A Spiritual Aenied. Although he only wrote six novels such as the Viaduct Murder and the Footsteps at the Lock, his writings are well known and he was a prominent member of the Detection Club.

From the guide to the Ronald Knox papers, 1894-1970, 1900-1962, (Claremont Colleges. Library. Special Collections, Honnold/Mudd Library.)