Knox, Frank, 1874-1944

U.S. secretary of the navy and newspaper editor and publisher and .

From the description of Papers of Frank Knox, 1898-1954. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 83869738

Publisher of the Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, E̲v̲e̲n̲i̲n̲g̲ N̲e̲w̲s̲, 1901-1910, and of the C̲h̲i̲c̲a̲g̲o̲ D̲a̲i̲l̲y̲ N̲e̲w̲s̲, 1931-1944, campaign manager for Chase S. Osborn in 1910, Republican vice presidential candidate in 1936, and Franklin D. Roosevelt's Secretary of the Navy.

From the description of Frank Knox papers, 1907-1910 and 1934-1938. (University of Michigan). WorldCat record id: 34418474

William Franklin Knox (January 1, 1874 - April 28, 1944) was an American newspaper editor and publisher. He was also the Republican vice presidential candidate in 1936, and Secretary of the Navy under Franklin D. Roosevelt during most of World War II, from 1940-1944.

From the description of Letter, April 18, 1936. (Naval War College). WorldCat record id: 18172277

Frank Knox was an American newspaper publisher and Secretary of the Navy during most of World War 2.

From the description of Frank Knox letter to Mrs. George Wilde, 1936. (New-York Historical Society Library). WorldCat record id: 712650522

Secretary of the Navy.

From the description of Papers, 1940-1944. (Navy Department Library, Naval History & Heritage Command). WorldCat record id: 51494811

Biographical Note

• 1874, Jan. 1: Born, Boston, Mass.
• 1881: Moved to Grand Rapids, Mich.
• 1898: A.B., Alma College, Alma, Mich. Private in “Rough Rider” regiment of Leonard Wood and Theodore Roosevelt
• 1890: Married Annie Reid
• 1898: Reporter, Grand Rapids Herald
• 1902: With John Adam Muehling purchased the Lake Superior Journal, Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.
• 1912: Sold Lake Superior Journal and started the Manchester Union and Leader. Manchester, N.H.
• 1917 - 1918 : Artillery officer with American Expeditionary Force in France
• 1928: Became publisher of Boston American for William Randolph Hearst
• 1929: Appointed general manager for all Hearst newspapers
• 1931: Resigned from Hearst organization
• 1932: Purchased with Theodore Ellis the Chicago Daily News
• 1933: Became sole owner of the Chicago Daily News
• 1936: Nominated and campaigned as Republican vice-presidential candidate
• 1940: Appointed secretary of the navy
• 1944, Apr. 28: Died, Washington, D.C.

From the guide to the Frank Knox Papers, 1898-1954, (Manuscript Division Library of Congress)

Frank Knox was born in Boston on January 1, 1874. While still a boy, his family moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan. He attended Alma College, but interrupted his studies to enlisted in the Spanish-American War. Discharged when he contracted malaria, Knox accepted a position with the Grand Rapids Herald . In 1902, he and a printer of his acquaintance purchased the Evening Journal in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. A year later, they changed the name of the paper to the Evening News .

Knox was a progressive Republican who aligned himself with fellow Sault journalist Chase S. Osborn whom he had met in 1901. When Osborn ran for governor in 1910, Knox was his campaign manager, and following his nomination, he became chairman of the Republican State Central Committee. In 1912, Knox left the state to take over the Manchester Leader in New Hampshire.

Knox's subsequent career included ownership of the Chicago Daily News, vice presidential candidacy with Alfred Landon in 1936, and Secretary of the Navy (1940-1944).

From the guide to the Frank Knox papers, 1907-1910 and 1934-1938, (Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan)