47th Secretary of the Navy of the United States (1874-1944)
For the cricketer, see Frank Knox (cricketer).
Frank Knox
Knox, c. 1940s
47th United States Secretary of the Navy
In office July 11, 1940 – April 28, 1944
President
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Preceded by
Charles Edison
Succeeded by
James Forrestal
Personal details
Born
William Franklin Knox
(1874-01-01)January 1, 1874 Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Died
April 28, 1944(1944-04-28) (aged 70) Washington, D.C., U.S.
Resting place
Arlington National Cemetery
Political party
Republican
Spouse
Annie Reid
Education
Alma College (BA)
Military service
Allegiance
United States
Branch/service
United States Army
Years of service
1898 1917–1919
Rank
Colonel
Battles/wars
Spanish–American War • Battle of Las Guasimas • Battle of San Juan Hill World War I
William Franklin Knox (January 1, 1874 – April 28, 1944) was an American politician, soldier, newspaper editor, and publisher. He was the Republican vice presidential candidate in 1936 and Secretary of the Navy under Franklin D. Roosevelt during most of World War II. On December 7, 1941, Knox, flanked by his assistant John O’Keefe, walked into Roosevelt's White House study around 1:30 pm EST, and announced that Japan had attacked Pearl Harbor.
Born in Boston, he attended Alma College and served with the Rough Riders during the Spanish–American War. After the war, he became a newspaper editor in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and state chairman of the Republican Party. He was a leading supporter of Theodore Roosevelt, the Progressive candidate for president in 1912. He advocated U.S. entrance into World War I and served as an artillery officer in France. The 1936 Republican National Convention nominated a ticket of Alf Landon and Knox, and they were defeated by Roosevelt and John Nance Garner in the 1936 election.
After World War II broke out in 1939, Knox supported aid to the Allies. In 1940, Roosevelt appointed him as Secretary of the Navy in hopes of building bipartisan support. Knox brought in James Forrestal as the under secretary. They presided over a massive naval buildup but were dissatisfied by the confused chain of command in Hawaii. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, Knox brought in a much more aggressive admiral, Ernest J. King. Roosevelt worked closely with King and largely neglected Knox. During the war, Knox continued his supervision of the Chicago Daily News, while Forrestal expanded his role and supervised the nonmilitary aspects of the department in terms of contracts and recruitment.[1] Knox served as secretary of the Navy until his death in 1944, when Forrestal replaced him.
William Franklin Knox (January 1, 1874 – April 28, 1944) was an American politician, soldier, newspaper editor, and publisher. He was the Republican vice...
USS FrankKnox (DD-742) was a Gearing-class destroyer which served in the United States Navy from 1944 to 1971. She was then transferred to the Greek Navy...
Florida Knox, Indiana Knox, Henry County, Indiana Knox, Maine Knox, New York Knox, North Dakota Knox, Knox County, Ohio Knox, Vinton County, Ohio Knox, Pennsylvania...
The FrankKnox Memorial Fellowship program is a scholarship program which funds students from Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United Kingdom to...
speaking at a press conference shortly afterward, Secretary of the Navy FrankKnox called the purported attack a "false alarm". Newspapers of the time published...
Governor Alf Landon of Kansas Senator William Borah from Idaho Publisher FrankKnox from Illinois (withdrew; endorsed Landon) Former President Herbert Hoover...
FrankKnox Morton Rehn (April 12, 1848 – July 7, 1914) was an American marine painter and president of the Salmagundi Club. Born in Philadelphia, he attended...
campaigned for Miller to receive this decoration. Secretary of the Navy FrankKnox, who opposed Black sailors serving the United States in any combat role...
Ohio. It nominated Governor Alfred Landon of Kansas for president and FrankKnox of Illinois for vice president. The convention supported many New Deal...
(1928–1999), Scottish author Willie Knox (born 1937), Scottish professional footballer and manager FrankKnox (William Franklin Knox, 1874–1944), American Secretary...
Secretary of the Navy in May 1944 upon the death of his superior, Col. FrankKnox. President Franklin D. Roosevelt requested that Forrestal take the lead...
and sold in 1947 USS Knox (FF-1052), was a Knox-class frigate launched 19 November 1966 and sunk as a target in 2007 USS FrankKnox (DD-742), was a Gearing-class...
Hoover of California Former Governor Frank Lowden of Illinois Senator Arthur Vandenberg of Michigan With Knox's candidacy withdrawing in order to become...
following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, US Secretary of the Navy FrankKnox issued a statement that "the most effective Fifth Column work of the entire...
Chicago newspaper publisher (and Roosevelt's future Secretary of the Navy) FrankKnox as his running mate. Landon proved to be an ineffective campaigner who...
Secretary Knox may refer to: FrankKnox, U.S. Secretary of the Navy (1940–1944) Henry Knox, U.S. Secretary of War (1785-1794) Philander C. Knox, U.S. Secretary...
Forces under General Hap Arnold. The Navy, led by Secretary of the Navy FrankKnox and Admiral Ernest King, proved more autonomous. Overall priorities were...
Governor of New Jersey, running in reaction to the political machine run by Frank Hague, but broke with family tradition by declaring himself a Democrat....
element exposing corruption in city machines. These included Frank Munsey and FrankKnox, who was the Republican vice-presidential candidate in 1936....
Wrenn Buckey O'Neill Craig Wadsworth Henry Nash John Avery McIlhenny FrankKnox Andrew Jackson Houston Paul Mathingham Hutton, "T.R. takes charge", American...
Secretary of the Navy FrankKnox to "get Yamamoto", but no official record of such an order exists, and sources disagree whether he did so. Knox essentially let...
physician (b. 1867) 1944 – Mohammed Alim Khan, Manghud ruler (b. 1880) 1944 – FrankKnox, American journalist and politician, 46th United States Secretary of the...
sequel Son of Flubber. In 1970, he was cast as Secretary of the Navy FrankKnox in the action war film Tora! Tora! Tora! His last screen role occurred...
Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson throughout the war Secretary of the Navy FrankKnox pre-war to May 1944 James V. Forrestal to war's end Secretary of Agriculture...
his actions, he also received a commendation from Secretary of the Navy FrankKnox. He further served with distinction in the carrier raids of Marcus and...
Global Information
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