Born at Leeds on 24 May 1829, he was elder son of Joseph Knight, a cloth merchant from Carlisle, and Marianne, daughter of Joseph Wheelwright. He was educated at Bramham College near Tadcaster.[2]
Joining his father in business at age 19, Knight began collecting books. With Alfred Austin, his junior by six years, he helped to found a Mechanics' Institute at Leeds, at which he lectured on literary subjects. On 7 April 1854 he lectured on The Fairies of English Poetry to the Leeds Philosophical and Literary Society. At Leeds, too, he made the acquaintance of William Edward Forster, who stayed at Knight's house while he was parliamentary candidate for the constituency in 1859. Knight seconded Forster's nomination.[2]
1876 caricature of Joseph Knight
In 1860 Knight moved to London as a journalist. He found early employment as dramatic critic for the Literary Gazette, through a chance meeting with the editor John Morley. He then concentrated on writing about the contemporary stage. In 1869 he succeeded John Abraham Heraud, as dramatic critic of the Athenæum, and retained the post for the rest of his life.[2]
Knight contributed the causerie signed "Sylvanus Urban" to the Gentleman's Magazine from 1887 till near his death, and he was a reviewer of general literature for the Athenæum. In July 1883, on the death of Henry Frederic Turle, he became editor of Notes and Queries, and retained the position for life. A bohemian and clubman, he was a leading member of the Arundel Club; after 1883, when he was elected to the Garrick Club (3 March), he was mainly found there. On 4 July 1905 the dramatic profession entertained him, as the oldest living dramatic critic, to dinner at the Savoy Hotel. Sir Henry Irving took the chair, and Benoît-Constant Coquelin and Gabrielle Réjane were among the guests.[2]
He died at his house, 27 Camden Square, on 23 June 1907, and was buried on the eastern side of Highgate cemetery. A posthumous portrait in oils by Margaret Grose was presented to the Garrick Club in 1912 by Knight's friend Henry Benjamin Wheatley.[2]
WorksEdit
Knight wrote on theatre history, and was the main contributor of the lives of actors to the Dictionary of National Biography, first edition and first supplement. His articles numbered over 500. The biography of David Garrick was the basis of a separate memoir (1894). He published in 1893 Theatrical Notes 1874-1879 (1893), a collection of articles on the drama from the Athenæum, and he edited in 1886[3] the Roscius Anglicanus of John Downes. In 1887 Knight published the Life of Rossetti in the "Great Writers series".[2]
FamilyEdit
Knight married at the parish church, Leeds, on 3 June 1856, Rachel (d. 1st February 1910), youngest daughter of John Wilkinson of Gledhall Mount near Leeds. He had issue a son Philip Sidney, b. 2 Feb. 1857, who emigrated to Australia; and two daughters, Gertrude who married Ian Forbes Robertson, parents of Beatrice Forbes-Robertson Hale; and Florence Mabel, who married Edward Mansel Sympson, of Lincoln, on 3 October 1888.[2][4]
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For other people with the same name see Joseph Knight John Joseph Knight 1829 1907 was an English dramatic critic and theatre historian 1 Joseph Knight from a book plateContents 1 Life 2 Works 3 Family 4 NotesLife EditBorn at Leeds on 24 May 1829 he was elder son of Joseph Knight a cloth merchant from Carlisle and Marianne daughter of Joseph Wheelwright He was educated at Bramham College near Tadcaster 2 Joining his father in business at age 19 Knight began collecting books With Alfred Austin his junior by six years he helped to found a Mechanics Institute at Leeds at which he lectured on literary subjects On 7 April 1854 he lectured on The Fairies of English Poetry to the Leeds Philosophical and Literary Society At Leeds too he made the acquaintance of William Edward Forster who stayed at Knight s house while he was parliamentary candidate for the constituency in 1859 Knight seconded Forster s nomination 2 nbsp 1876 caricature of Joseph KnightIn 1860 Knight moved to London as a journalist He found early employment as dramatic critic for the Literary Gazette through a chance meeting with the editor John Morley He then concentrated on writing about the contemporary stage In 1869 he succeeded John Abraham Heraud as dramatic critic of the Athenaeum and retained the post for the rest of his life 2 In 1871 during the siege of Paris Knight used his influence to secure the invitation to the Comedie Francaise to act at the Gaiety Theatre in London He also acted as dramatic critic for the Sunday Times The Globe and for the Daily Graphic from 1894 to 1906 2 nbsp Grave of Joseph Knight in Highgate CemeteryIn London Knight moved in literary and dramatic circles Early associates included John Westland Marston and Sebastian Evans At Marston s house he met authors and playwrights Thomas Purnell introduced him to Swinburne to whom and Dante Gabriel Rossetti he became close 2 Knight contributed the causerie signed Sylvanus Urban to the Gentleman s Magazine from 1887 till near his death and he was a reviewer of general literature for the Athenaeum In July 1883 on the death of Henry Frederic Turle he became editor of Notes and Queries and retained the position for life A bohemian and clubman he was a leading member of the Arundel Club after 1883 when he was elected to the Garrick Club 3 March he was mainly found there On 4 July 1905 the dramatic profession entertained him as the oldest living dramatic critic to dinner at the Savoy Hotel Sir Henry Irving took the chair and Benoit Constant Coquelin and Gabrielle Rejane were among the guests 2 nbsp Joseph Knight age 67On 4 May 1893 Knight was elected Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London A book collector through life he twice had to sell up on the second occasion in 1905 He died at his house 27 Camden Square on 23 June 1907 and was buried on the eastern side of Highgate cemetery A posthumous portrait in oils by Margaret Grose was presented to the Garrick Club in 1912 by Knight s friend Henry Benjamin Wheatley 2 Works EditKnight wrote on theatre history and was the main contributor of the lives of actors to the Dictionary of National Biography first edition and first supplement His articles numbered over 500 The biography of David Garrick was the basis of a separate memoir 1894 He published in 1893 Theatrical Notes 1874 1879 1893 a collection of articles on the drama from the Athenaeum and he edited in 1886 3 the Roscius Anglicanus of John Downes In 1887 Knight published the Life of Rossetti in the Great Writers series 2 Family EditKnight married at the parish church Leeds on 3 June 1856 Rachel d 1st February 1910 youngest daughter of John Wilkinson of Gledhall Mount near Leeds He had issue a son Philip Sidney b 2 Feb 1857 who emigrated to Australia and two daughters Gertrude who married Ian Forbes Robertson parents of Beatrice Forbes Robertson Hale and Florence Mabel who married Edward Mansel Sympson of Lincoln on 3 October 1888 2 4 Notes Edit Knight Joseph Who s Who 1907 p 999 a b c d e f g h i Lee Sidney ed 1912 Knight Joseph 1829 1907 Dictionary of National Biography 2nd supplement Vol 2 London Smith Elder amp Co Roscius Anglicanus or An historical review of the stage from 1660 to 1706 in libraries WorldCat catalog Births Marriages and Deaths The British Medical Journal 2 1451 914 20 October 1888 JSTOR 20217648 nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to John Joseph Knight nbsp Wikisource has original works by or about Joseph Knight Attribution nbsp This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Lee Sidney ed 1912 Knight Joseph 1829 1907 Dictionary of National Biography 2nd supplement Vol 2 London Smith Elder amp Co Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Joseph Knight critic amp oldid 1083544900, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
