Sir Charles Knowles, 1st Baronet

Sir Charles Knowles, Bt
Sir Charles Knowles
Born	c. 1704
Died	9 December 1777 Bulstrode Street, London
Allegiance	Kingdom of Great Britain  Russian Empire
Service/branch	Royal Navy  Imperial Russian Navy
Years of service	1718 – 1774
Rank	Admiral
Commands held	HMS Diamond HMS Success HMS Lichfield HMS Weymouth HMS Suffolk
Battles/wars	Battle of Cape Passaro Battle of Cartagena de Indias Battle of La Guaira Battle of Puerto Cabello Battle of Havana
Relations	Charles Knowles (son) Edward Knowles (son)

Charles Knowles (son)

Sir Charles Knowles, 1st Baronet (c.1704 – 9 December 1777) was an officer of the Royal Navy, who saw service during the War of Jenkins' Ear, the wider War of the Austrian Succession, and the Seven Years' War. He also briefly served with the Imperial Russian Navy during the Russo-Turkish War. He rose to the rank of Admiral in a long and varied career, crowned with both success, and at times, controversy. He was highly educated, and particularly skilled in building and destroying fortifications. His career was mainly centred on the West Indies, where he commanded ships and squadrons in actions against both Spanish and French ships and settlements. Despite an active naval career that saw him rise to be Rear-Admiral of Great Britain, Knowles found time to devote to his studies, working on translations of foreign scientific studies, and developing his own inventions. His career at sea was blighted however by several failures, which may have been a cause of his move to Russia during the later part of his life to oversee the development of the Russian fleet. He is also remembered for causing the Knowles Riot in Boston.

Knowles was probably born c. 1704, though some sources date his birth to as early as 1697. He was reputed to be an illegitimate son of Charles Knollys, the titular fourth Earl of Banbury. His education was overseen by his half-brother, Lord Wallingford, and Knowles entered the navy in March 1718, having been recommended to Admiral Sir George Byng by Wallingford. Knowles went aboard one of the ships of Byng's fleet, the 70-gun HMS Buckingham, under Captain Charles Strickland, though he moved in April aboard HMS Lenox as a captain's servant. He remained aboard the Lenox until December 1720, serving with Byng's fleet in the Mediterranean. He was present at the Battle of Cape Passaro on 11 August 1718, where he may have temporarily been aboard Byng's flagship HMS Barfleur.