William Knox

Colonial expert and pamphleteer William Knox has received attention in virtually every major study of the American Revolution, yet this is the first biography of Knox ever written. Knox is best known as undersecretary of state in the American Department of the British government from 1770 to 1782. A prolific and candid commentator, he also made a reputation as a pamphleteer, defending the imperial cause during the decade preceding the Revolution. It had been his experience as provost marshal in Georgia from 1757 to 1762 that convinced Knox of the danger to the empire of the growing "democratic" forces in the American colonies. While numerous historical works have focused on this or that aspect of Knox's career and thought, such treatment has produced at best a jigsaw portrait. Bellot's comprehensive narrative reveals Knox as a person—one whose Calvinist heritage and Scots-Irish upbringing profoundly influenced his view of empire—and as a historical actor and witness. Here is a look at the events of the revolutionary period through the eyes of a British bureaucrat who had a significant role in both the formation and the execution of British policy. This perspective also provides an excellent case study of the operation of the eighteenth-century British bureaucracy.

William Knox (ca. 1720-1773/1774) immigrated from Ireland to Hopkinton, Massachusetts, and later moved to Blandford, Massachusetts. Descen- dants lived in New England, New York, Ohio, Minnesota, Missouri and elsewhere. Some descendants immigrated to Ontario and elsewhere in Canada.

This collection of essays grew out of a symposium commemorating the 250th anniversary of the founding of Georgia. The contributors are authorities in their respective fields and their efforts represent not only the fruits of long careers but also the observations and insights of some of the most promising young scholars. Forty Years of Diversity sheds new light on the social, political, religious, and ethnic diversity of colonial Georgia.

Colonial expert and pamphleteer William Knox has received attention in virtually every major study of the American Revolution, yet this is the first biography of Knox ever written. Knox is best known as undersecretary of state in the American Department of the British government from 1770 to 1782. A prolific and candid commentator, he also made a reputation as a pamphleteer, defending the imperial cause during the decade preceding the Revolution. It had been his experience as provost marshal in Georgia from 1757 to 1762 that convinced Knox of the danger to the empire of the growing "democratic" forces in the American colonies. While numerous historical works have focused on this or that aspect of Knox's career and thought, such treatment has produced at best a jigsaw portrait. Bellot's comprehensive narrative reveals Knox as a person—one whose Calvinist heritage and Scots-Irish upbringing profoundly influenced his view of empire—and as a historical actor and witness. Here is a look at the events of the revolutionary period through the eyes of a British bureaucrat who had a significant role in both the formation and the execution of British policy. This perspective also provides an excellent case study of the operation of the eighteenth-century British bureaucracy.

Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book. Sample Book Insights: #1 The Battle of Lake George was the final battle of the French and Indian War, and it was a victory for the British. The Americans were able to capture Fort Ticonderoga, which gave them access to the cannons stored there. #2 The American army surrounded Boston in 1776, but they lacked artillery to take the British-held Fort Ticonderoga. Benedict Arnold was tasked with taking the fort, but he had no idea how to get the cannons to the men who needed them. #3 Henry Knox, the son of a failed shipbuilder, was hired by Messrs. Wharton and Bowes to work at their bookshop in south Boston. He took on the job with secret pride, believing he could save the family from financial ruin and restore the Knox name. #4 Henry’s father, William Knox, was a successful merchant who made money building ships for 25 to 50 percent less than England due to the availability of cheap labor and lumber. The Irishman prospered, buying a wharf in Boston Harbor, a construction yard, and a picturesque, two-story, wood sided home with a gambrel roof and two fireplaces on Sea Street.

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Content includes the typing and transcribing work of Dorothy Jane Larson Bryson, as well as copies of the original diaries of William Knox, 1847-1856.