Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes ProCon History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture Money Videos
William Franklin Knox
Table of Contents
Introduction References & Edit History Quick Facts & Related Topics
Images
Knox, Frank
Read Next
The United States Supreme Court building, Washington, D.C.
14 Questions About Government in the United States Answered
Bar graph of the United States Death Toll during major events. Infogram chart.
U.S. Death Toll During Major Events
The Battle of New Orleans, by E. Percy Moran, c. 1910. Andrew Jackson, War of 1812.
26 Decade-Defining Events in U.S. History
Groups of depositors in front of the closed American Union Bank, New York City. April 26, 1932. Great Depression run on bank crowd
Causes of the Great Depression
President's bingo. Guess and select to correct president based on images.
Britannica’s U.S. Presidents Bingo
Discover
Title: Senate Square, St. Petersburg, December 14, 1825: repression of the troop mutiny - watercolor by Carl Ivanovitch Kollman, 1825 depicts Decembrist uprising clashing with cavalry, with spectators watching. (new style December 26, 1825) Europe. Saint
8 of the Largest Empires in History
Super Typhoon Noru over the western tropical Pacific Ocean as observed by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA Aqua satellite July 31 2017
What Is the Difference Between a Typhoon and a Super Typhoon?
A human Inuit skull in a stone chambered cairn in Ilulissat in Greenland. These ancient graves are pre christian and are at least 2000
14 Tough Questions Answered
Close up of books. Stack of books, pile of books, literature, reading. Homepage 2010, arts and entertainment, history and society
12 Novels Considered the “Greatest Book Ever Written”
Woman tied to a ducking stool, a method of punishment by means of humiliation, beating, or death. (cucking stool)
8 Unusual Punishments Inflicted on Women Throughout History
Rural Irish landscape, Sligo, Ireland.
Why Is Ireland Two Countries?
Thanksgiving Turkey with all the sides
Why Do We Eat Turkey on Thanksgiving?
Knox, Frank
Knox, Frank Frank Knox.

William Franklin Knox

American publisher
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
Feedback
Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login).
Thank you for your feedback

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

External Websites
Written and fact-checked by
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Article History
Quick Facts
Born:
Jan. 1, 1874, Boston
Died:
April 28, 1944, Washington, D.C.
See all related content

William Franklin Knox (born Jan. 1, 1874, Boston—died April 28, 1944, Washington, D.C.) was a U.S. newspaper publisher and secretary of the navy during World War II. After graduating from Alma College, Alma, Mich., he served with the 1st U.S. volunteer cavalry, known as the “Rough Riders,” in the Spanish-American War. He became a newspaper reporter in Grand Rapids, Mich., and from 1901 to 1912 was publisher of the Sault Ste. Marie News. He later published two newspapers in Manchester, N.H., and two in Boston. During World War I he served overseas with the 78th division. After the war he returned to the publishing business and in 1927 became associated with the Hearst publications. In 1931 he became publisher of the Chicago Daily News. In 1936 Knox was nominated for the vice presidency by the Republican convention on the ticket headed by Alfred M. Landon. In July 1940 President F.D. Roosevelt appointed him secretary of the navy, a post he held until his death.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Encyclopaedia Britannica.