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 [decorative delimiter] Class of 1868

Vol. III
p107
2220

(Born Eng.)

John G. D. Knight

(Ap'd Mo.)

2

Born London, England.​a

Military History. — Cadet at the Military Academy, Sep. 1, 1864, to June 15, 1868, when he was graduated and promoted in the Army to

Second Lieut., Corps of Engineers, June 15, 1868.

Served: with Engineer Battalion at Willet's Point, N. Y., Oct. 1, 1868, to Aug. 29, 1870; as Assistant Engineer on the Defenses of the Eastern

(First Lieut., Corps of Engineers, Jan. 22, 1870)

entrance to New York Harbor, Aug. 29, 1870, to Feb. 5, 1874 (in temporary charge, Nov. 2, 1870, to Jan. 21, 1871, and June 11 to Oct. 13, 1873); as Chief Engineer of the Division of the Pacific, Mar. 16 to Aug. 12, 1874, — and of the Department of California, Apr. 7 to Aug. 12, 1874; at the Military Academy as Principal Assistant Professor of Mathematics, Aug. 30, 1874, to Aug. 28, 1881; on leave of absence, June 30, 1881, to Apr. 20, 1882; as Disbursing Officer of Mississippi River Commission, Apr. 20, 1882, and in charge of Levees and Improvements

(Captain, Corps of Engineers, June 15, 1882)

from Cairo to Island No. 40, Sep. 2, 1882, to Apr. 20, 1885; in command of Engineer Company at Willets Point, N. Y., May 6, 1886, to Nov. 15, 1887; in charge of Ft. Schuyler, N. Y., June 8, 1886, to Nov. 23, 1887; on detached service with New York National Guard, July 28 to Aug. 6, 1887; and as Instructor of Engineering in the Infantry and Cavalry School of Application, Ft. Leavenworth, Kan., Dec. 10, 1887, to –––––.

Vol. IV
p176
[Supplement, Vol. IV: 1890‑1900]

(John George David Knight)

Military History. — Instructor of engineering in the Infantry and Cavalry School of Application, Fort Leavenworth, Kan., Dec. 10, 1887 to June 6, 1890. — Assistant in the office of the Chief of Engineers, June 9, 1890 to March 30, 1895.

(Major, Corps of Engineers, Feb. 3, 1895)

— In charge of the Washington Aqueduct and increasing the water supply of Washington, D. C., March 30 to Sept. 30, 1895. — On special duty in office of the Chief of Engineers, Oct., 1895. — In charge of fortifications at eastern entrance to New York Harbor, Nov. 6, 1895 to July 21, 1896, and of submarine mine defenses of that entrance, April 6, 1898 to –––––; Commanding the U. S. Engineer School, the Battalion of Engineers, and the post of Willets Point and Fort Totten, and in charge of the Engineer Depot, Nov. 4, 1895 to –––––; Member of the following Boards: On range and position finders, Oct. 24, 1890 to June 25, 1897; on using water power near Washington, D. C., for providing electric lights in District of Columbia, April 19 to July 18, 1894; on geographic names, Dec. 12, 1894 to April 2, 1895; the Board of Engineers, Nov. 23, 1895 to April 4, 1898; on torpedo system, Jan. 30, 1896 to –––––; on regulation of sea‑coast artillery fire, June 25, 1897 to –––––; Secretary of Board on route for Chesapeake and Delaware Canal, Nov., 1894.

Vol. V
p147
[Supplement, Vol. V: 1900‑1910]

Military History. — In charge of fortifications at eastern entrance to New York Harbor, Nov. 6, 1895 to July 21, 1896, and of submarine mine defenses of that entrance, April 6, 1898 to April 29, 1901. — Commanding the U. S. Engineer School and the post of Willets Point and Fort Totten, and in charge of the Engineer Depot, Nov. 4, 1895 to April 29, 1901. — Commanding the Battalion of Engineers, Nov. 4, 1895 to March 8, 1901; then the 3d Battalion to April 29, 1901. — Member of the following Boards: On range and position finders, Oct. 24, 1890 to June 25, 1897; on using water power near Washington, D. C., for providing electric lights in District of Columbia, April 19 to July 18, 1894; on geographic names, Dec. 12, 1894 to April 2, 1895; the Board of Engineers, Nov. 23, 1895 to April 4, 1898; on torpedo system, Jan. 30, 1896 to April 30, 1901; on regulation of sea‑coast artillery fire, June 25, 1897 to Sept. 16, 1899; Secretary of Board on route for Chesapeake and Delaware Canal, Nov., 1894 to Jan. 31, 1895. — In charge of improvement of Tennessee River and tributaries, May 2, 1901 to April 25, 1903; of Cumberland, Obion and Forked Deer Rivers, June 12 to Sept. 17, 1901. — On duty at maneuvers at Fort Riley, Sept. 23 to Oct. 8, 1902. — Detailed Member of the General Staff Corps, April 17, 1903; on duty under this detail at Washington, D. C., April 27 to Sept. 27, 1903. — Chief of Staff, Department of East, Sept. 28, 1903 to Jan. 15, 1904; Atlantic Division, Jan. 15, 1904 to Oct. 1, 1904.

(Lieut.‑Colonel, Corps of Engineers, Jan. 23, 1904)

— Chief of Staff, Maneuver Corps, Manassas, Va., Aug. 26 to Sept. 12, 1904; Philippine Division, Nov. 30, 1904 to March 14, 1907.

(Colonel, Corps of Engineers, March 2, 1907)

— Chief Engineer Officer, Atlantic Division, May 25 to July 1, 1907; Department of East, July 4, 1907; of Gulf, July 8, 1907, both to Jan. 7, 1909. — In charge 1st New York District of Rivers and Harbors, June 1, 1907 to Jan. 15, 1909. — Division Engineer, Northeast Division, June 4, 1907 to Dec. 3, 1909. — Member of following Boards, among others: Tests of disappearing gun carriages, July 16 to Aug. 15, 1902; the Board of Engineers, May 10, 1907 to Dec. 3, 1909; New York Harbor Line Board, June 4, 1907, to Dec. 3, 1909; examination of engineer officers for promotion, Jan. 25 to April 26, 1901, and June 4, 1907 to Dec. 3, 1909; board of engineers for rivers and harbors, Oct. 21, 1908, to Dec. 3, 1909.

(Brig.‑General, U. S. A., Nov. 30, 1909)

Brig.‑General, U. S. A., Retired Jan. 24, 1910, by operation of law.

Vol. VI
p131
[Supplement, Vol. VI: 1910‑1920]

(John George David Knight, Born Jan. 24, 1846.)

Military History. —

Colonel, Corps of Engineers, March 2, 1907.

Brigadier-General, U. S. A., Nov. 30, 1909.

Brigadier-General, U. S. A., Retired, Jan. 24, 1910,
By Operation of Law.

Civil History. — President Board of Trade, Summit, N. J., 1912; elected member of Common Council for incomplete term; re‑elected, 1913‑15; member of Summit Hill Council of National Security League, 1916.

Military History. — Assigned to active duty July 15, 1917; Engineer Commissioner of District of Columbia, July 16, 1917, to Dec. 13, 1918.

Died, June 9, 1919, at Summit, N. J.: Aged 73.

Portrait and obituary in Annual Report, Association of Graduates, for 1920.º

Buried, West Point Cemetery, West Point, NY.


Thayer's Note:

a Gen. Knight's birthplace is from his AOG obituary.


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