Charles Landon Knight (June 18, 1867 – September 26, 1933) was an American lawyer and newspaper publisher who represented Ohio in the

United States House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives is a chamber of the Bicameralism, bicameral United States Congress; it is the lower house, with the U.S. Senate being the upper house. Together, the House and Senate have the authority under Artic ...

for one term from 1921 to 1923. His sons built his newspaper business into what would become

Knight Ridder Knight Ridder was an American media company, specializing in newspaper and Internet publishing. It was bought by McClatchy on June 27, 2006, allowing the latter to become the second largest newspaper publisher in the United States at the time ...

Early life

Born near

Milledgeville, Georgia Milledgeville () is a city in and the county seat of Baldwin County, Georgia, Baldwin County, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia, United States. Founded in 1803 along the Oconee River, it served as the List of current and former capital cities in the ...

, "C.L." graduated from

Vanderbilt University Vanderbilt University (informally Vandy or VU) is a private university, private research university in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 1873, it was named in honor of shipping and railroad magnate Cornelius Vanderbilt, who provide ...

in 1889 and from

Columbia University Law School Columbia Law School (CLS) is the law school of Columbia University, a private Ivy League university in New York City. The school was founded in 1858 as the Columbia College Law School. The university is known for its legal scholarship dating ba ...

in 1890. He was admitted to the bar in 1892 and commenced practice at

Bluefield, West Virginia Bluefield is a city in Mercer County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 9,658 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. It is the principal city of the Bluefield micropolitan area extending into Virginia, which had a populatio ...

Journalism and politics

Knight joined the ''

Philadelphia Times ''The Times'' was a daily newspaper published from March 13, 1875, to August 11, 1902, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The paper was founded by Alexander McClure and Frank McLaughlin as an independent voice against party machine politics and corrup ...

'' in 1896 and remained until 1900. In 1903, Knight purchased the ''

Akron Beacon Journal The ''Akron Beacon Journal'' is a morning newspaper in Akron, Ohio, United States. Owned by Gannett, it is the sole daily newspaper in Akron and is distributed throughout Northeast Ohio. The paper's coverage focuses on local news. The Beacon Jo ...

'' in

Akron, Ohio Akron () is a city in Summit County, Ohio, United States, and its county seat. It is the List of municipalities in Ohio, fifth-most populous city in Ohio, with a population of 190,469 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. The Akron metr ...

. According to his obituary in ''The New York Times'', "Mr. Knight was well known for his opposition to the Taft nomination in 1912, the election of Woodrow Wilson, America's entry into the World War, the country's proposed membership in the League of Nations and prohibition." He was a delegate to the

Republican National Convention The Republican National Convention (RNC) is a series of presidential nominating conventions held every four years since 1856 by the Republican Party in the United States. They are administered by the Republican National Committee. The goal o ...

from Ohio in 1916 and 1924. He was the Representative from Ohio 14th District, from 1921 to 1923. In 1922, Knight ran unsuccessfully for Governor of Ohio.

Legacy

Knight died in 1933 and is buried in Akron, Ohio.Staff report (September 27, 1933). C. L. Knight Dies, 66; Long a Publisher; Well Known as Militant Editor of the Akron Beacon-Journal. ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...

'' His son, John S. Knight inherited the ''Beacon Journal'' in 1933; with his brother James L. Knight, the two expanded their media holdings significantly. To honor the memory of their father, the brothers established the Knight Memorial Education Fund in 1940 to provide financial aid to college students from the Akron area. The fund existed until December 1950 when its assets of $9,047 were transferred to the newly created Knight Foundation.

John S. and James L. Knight Foundation John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second Ep ...

, "dedicated to promotion of journalistic causes".

Family

Knight married Clara Irene Shively of

Shenandoah, Pennsylvania Shenandoah is a borough (Pennsylvania), borough in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, Schuylkill County in the Coal Region of Pennsylvania. It is distinct from Shenandoah Heights, Pennsylvania, Shenandoah Heights, which is part of West Mahanoy Tow ...

on November 22, 1893. They had two sons, John Shively Knight and James Landon Knight.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Knight, Charles Landon Politicians from Akron, Ohio 1867 births 1933 deaths Vanderbilt University alumni Columbia Law School alumni Knight family (publishing) Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Ohio 20th-century members of the United States House of Representatives Lawyers from Bluefield, West Virginia Politicians from Bluefield, West Virginia Writers from Bluefield, West Virginia