John Power Knowles

John Power Knowles (June 13, 1808 – August 3, 1887) was a United States federal judge.

Born in Providence, Rhode Island, Knowles received an AB from Brown University in 1836 and an LL.B. from Harvard University in 1838. He was in private practice in Providence, Rhode Island from 1838 to 1855, and was a member of the Rhode Island General Assembly in 1855. He was a Court reporter in Providence from 1855 to 1857, and then returned to private practice there until 1865, when he again took up work as a court reporter for a year. He was returned to the Rhode Island General Assembly in 1866, and was a city solicitor in Providence from 1866 to 1867, thereafter making a final return to private practice until 1869.

On October 9, 1869, Knowles received a recess appointment from President Ulysses Grant to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island vacated by Jonathan R. Bullock. Formally nominated on December 6, 1869, Knowles was confirmed by the United States Senate on January 24, 1870, and received his commission the same day. Knowles served in that capacity until March 21, 1881, due to retirement.

He died in Providence, Rhode Island.

Sources

• John Power Knowles at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.