Obituaries Australia

Sir Edward Knox, by J. Hubert Newman, c1894

State Library of New South Wales, a128680

With this issue we publish a portrait of the late Sir Edward Knox, who died on 3rd January at his residence "Fiona," South Head Road, Sydney, at the age of eighty-two years, having been for over half a century one of the leading men of business in Sydney, and one looked up to with the greatest respect by reason of his high character, great abilities and public spirit.

Sir Edward Knox, who was born in Denmark of English parents in 1819, arrived in Australia in 1839, and since the year 1843 has been mainly associated with the Australian Sugar Company, the head office of which in Sydney came under his management about that time. About the year 1854 the affairs of the company were merged into the Colonial Sugar Refining Company, of which firm the deceased gentleman was for a long time chairman, and a leading director until the day of his death. Sir Edward, whilst managing the Sugar Company, became associated with the organisation of the Commercial Banking Company of Sydney, first as secretary, then as a director, and afterwards became chairman of directors on the death of Mr. Richard Jones in 1892. These two institutions, and particularly the Sugar Company, may be regarded as monuments to his business ability. The deceased gentleman was always found working hard in connection with the charitable institutions of the community, and has been chairman of the board of the Prince Alfred Hospital from the time of its establishment. He was also chairman of the Carrington Hospital, and displayed much interest in church and school work.

In 1856 he was appointed a member of the first Legislative Council under responsible Government, and resigned his seat in 1857, on leaving the colony. He was, however, again appointed to the seat in 1881, but retired in 1894, after a very serious illness. In 1898 he was knighted.

Sir Edward leaves three sons, one of whom—Mr. Edward Knox— is manager of his deceased father's old company, the Colonial Sugar Refining Company; the second, Mr. Thomas F. Knox, is managing director in Sydney of Messrs. Dalgety and Co.; and the youngest, Mr. Adrian Knox, one of the leading members of the equity bar in Sydney.