William Charles Goddard Knowles, CBE, MA,

LLD Legum Doctor (Latin: “teacher of the laws”) (LL.D.) or, in English, Doctor of Laws, is a doctorate-level academic degree in law or an honorary degree, depending on the jurisdiction. The double “L” in the abbreviation#Plural forms, abbrev ...

, JP (; 12 January 1908 – 13 January 1969) was a British businessman in Hong Kong. He was general manager of the Butterfield and Swire, chairman of the Cathay Pacific Airways, member of the Legislative Council and the Executive Council and vice-chancellor of the University of Hong Kong.

Biography

Knowles was born in Bombay, British India on 12 January 1908. He was educated at Christ's Hospital, Sussex, and Trinity College, Cambridge. After he graduated he joined Butterfield and Swire and its parent company in London. From 1929 to 39, he worked in different Chinese cities including Yangtze ports, Hong Kong, Tientsin and Shanghai. He served in the Indian Army during the Second World War and resumed his office at Butterfield and Swire in Shanghai after the war ended. He moved to Hong Kong in 1947 and was appointed general manager of the company in 1957. He was also chairman of associated companies such as Taikoo Dockyard and Engineering Co. Ltd., Taikoo, Sugar Refining Co. Ltd., Duro Paint Manufacturing Co. Ltd., Swire and MacLaine, Ltd., Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd. and the Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Co. Ltd. He was also a director and later the chairman of the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation and a director of the Hong Kong Land Investment and Agency Co. Ltd. and the

Union Insurance Society of Canton The Union Insurance Society of Canton (commonly known as the Union) was a major Hong Kong-based insurance company regarded in the early 20th century as one of the four leading British businesses, or " hongs", of colonial Hong Kong alongside Hong Ko ...

. Besides his business positions, he served on the committee of the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce from 1961 to 62 and was the chairman of the chamber for two years. He was also appointed founding chairman of the

Hong Kong Tourist Association The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) is a Government-subvented body founded in 2001. The Board replaced the Hong Kong Tourist Association (HKTA) established in 1957. It has 15 branch offices and representative offices in 6 markets around the w ...

and member of the Legislative Council (1961–64) and the Executive Council of Hong Kong. Knowles was manager of Butterfield and Swire until he served briefly in the office of vice-chancellor of the University of Hong Kong, in succession to Sir

Lindsay Ride Brigadier Sir Lindsay Tasman Ride, CBE, JP, ED, MD, MRCS, LRCP, Hon LLD (10 October 1898 – 17 October 1977) was an Australian physiologist, soldier, and vice chancellor of the University of Hong Kong. Early life Ride was born in Newstea ...

, from 1964 to 1965. He had been member of the Court and Council from 1958 and treasurer of the university in 1962. In recognition of his services to the colony and to the university he was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws in 1964. He was also awarded Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for his public service in 1965. Knowles Building in the University of Hong Kong campus is named after him. A character named Quillan Gornt in the novel '' Noble House'' is based on Knowles and

John Kidston Swire John Kidston "Jock" Swire (1893–22 February 1983), was a British businessman, chairman of Swire Group from 1946 to 1966. Early life He was the son of John Swire of Hubbard's Hall, Harlow, Essex, and grandson of John Samuel Swire. He was e ...

, the two taipans of Butterfield and Swire. He held the position of executive director of

Lloyd's Register of Shipping Lloyd's Register Group Limited (LR) is a technical and professional services organisation and a maritime classification society, wholly owned by the Lloyd’s Register Foundation, a UK charity dedicated to research and education in science and ...

when he died suddenly on a business trip in

Jakarta Jakarta (; , bew, Jakarte), officially the Special Capital Region of Jakarta ( id, Daerah Khusus Ibukota Jakarta) is the capital and largest city of Indonesia. Lying on the northwest coast of Java, the world's most populous island, Jakarta ...

, Indonesia on 13 January 1969.

References

External links

Time To Remember
– Interview with Bill Knowles {{DEFAULTSORT:Knowles, William Charles Goddard 1908 births 1969 deaths Military personnel of British India Indian Army personnel of World War II British Indian Army personnel People educated at Christ's Hospital Alumni of Trinity College, Cambridge British businesspeople in shipping British expatriates in China British expatriates in Hong Kong Hong Kong shipping businesspeople Hong Kong chief executives Hong Kong justices of the peace Cathay Pacific Swire Group Chairmen of HSBC Members of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong Members of the Executive Council of Hong Kong Heads of universities in Hong Kong Vice-Chancellors of the University of Hong Kong Commanders of the Order of the British Empire