Charles Knight (doctor)

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Charles Knight
Born
Rye, Sussex, England
Baptised14 July 1808[1]
Died3 September 1891(1891-09-03) (aged 82–83)
Wellington, New Zealand
Resting placeBolton Street Memorial Park
SpouseCaroline Symes
RelativesPhilip Levi (partner of sister-in-law)

Charles Knight (c. 1808 – 3 September 1891) was a New Zealand doctor, public servant and botanist. He was born in

Royal College of Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland and a Fellow in 1869. Between 1830 and 1840 Knight worked as a doctor and spent time in America.[2]

Administrative career

In 1841 he sailed to Australia as ship's surgeon on the Lord Glenelg. After arrival, he was employed by the Governor of South Australia, George Grey as a clerk. Knight moved with Grey when the latter was appointed Governor of New Zealand. In February 1846 Knight was appointed as the country's inaugural auditor-general and in 1855 became manager of the Colonial Bank of Issue and then auditor of public accounts and chaired many official commissions into subjects as diverse as flax production, meteorology and civil servant employment conditions. He later re-organised the postal banking system. In New Zealand, Knight first lived in Auckland and when the government moved to Wellington, he also relocated to the new capital in 1865.[2]

Botany

Knight was a keen botanist and his main interest was

Wellington Philosophical Society in 1869 and was president in 1873 and 1874. He was a member of the board of governors of the New Zealand Institute from 1870 to 1872 and in 1875.[2]

Personal life

Knight married Caroline Symes in 1844 when he was living in Adelaide. They had two sons and three daughters together. He died at his home in Wellington and is buried at Bolton Street Memorial Park.[2]

Legacy

Knight's extensive personal collection of specimens is in

herbaria
in other countries.

References

  1. ^ "England Births and Christenings, 1538–1975," database, FamilySearch (30 December 2014, Charles Knight, 14 Jul 1808); citing Rye, Sussex, England, index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 1,067,289.
  2. ^ a b c d Galloway, D. J. "Charles Knight". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
  3. ISBN 9781139004404
    .


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