McKnight, Robert, 1820-1885

Born on January 27, 1820, the fourth of seven children of William (1775-1848) and Catherine ((McClurg), b. 1791) McKnight, Robert McKnight attended private school in Xenia, Ohio, before attending the College of New Jersey, now Princeton University. Upon his graduation in 1839, McKnight returned to Pittsburgh where he worked in the law offices of Biddle and Bradford. Following his admittance to the bar in 1842, he entered into partnership with Henry S. Magraw and went on to become solicitor for the Bank of Pittsburgh in 1846. He married Elizabeth O'Hara Denny (1824-1896) on May 27, 1847, with whom he had ten children. He served as a Pittsburgh city councilman from 1847 to 1849 and as a United States congressman representing Pennsylvania from 1859 to 1863. When his time spent in public service concluded, McKnight returned to his law practice. McKnight died in Pittsburgh on October 25, 1885, and was buried in Allegheny Cemetery.

Pittsburgh lawyer and United States congressman, Robert McKnight was born on January 27, 1820. He graduated from Princeton college in 1839 and studied law in the offices of Biddle and Bradford in Pittsburgh. After passing the bar in 1842, he entered into partnership with Henry S. Magraw. McKnight was a city councilman, 1847-1849, and elected to the 36th and 37th congresses of the United States House of Representatives (1859-1863). In 1847, he married Elizabeth O'Hara Denny (1824-1896). They had ten children. Robert McKnight died on October 25, 1885.

Robert McKnight, born in Pittsburgh, was a congressman from Pennsylvania.

He graduated from the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University) in 1839, studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1842, and commenced practice in Pittsburgh. McKnight was city councilman from 1847 to 1849 and was elected as a Republican representative to the Thirty-sixth and Thirty-seventh Congresses (March 4, 1859-March 3, 1863); later he resumed the practice of his profession.