William Erskine Knowles

William Erskine Knowles (November 28, 1872 – July 17, 1951) was a Canadian politician.

William Erskine Knowles
Member of the Canada Parliament for Assiniboia West
In office 1906–1908
Preceded by	Thomas Walter Scott
Member of the Canada Parliament for Moose Jaw
In office 1908–1917
Succeeded by	James Alexander Calder
Member of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan for Moose Jaw City
In office 1918–1921
In office 1925–1927
Personal details
Born	(1872-11-28)November 28, 1872 Alliston, Ontario, Canada
Died	July 17, 1951(1951-07-17) (aged 78)
Political party	Liberal
Other political affiliations	Saskatchewan Liberal Party
Cabinet	Minister of Telephones (1919-1921) Provincial Secretary (1918-1921)

Born in Alliston, Ontario, Knowles was educated at Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto, Ontario. A lawyer by profession, he was first elected to the House of Commons of Canada for the electoral district of Assiniboia West in a by-election held on February 6, 1906. A Liberal, he was re-elected in 1908 and 1911 for the electoral district of Moose Jaw. He did not run in 1917. From 1918 to 1927, he was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan. From 1918 to 1921, he was the Provincial Secretary and from 1919 to 1921 he was the Minister of Telephones. He attempted a federal comeback in the 1921 and 1923 elections but was defeated.

Knowles resigned his seat in the Saskatchewan assembly in 1927 after he was named a judge.

Electoral results (partial)

1925 Saskatchewan general election: Moose Jaw City
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	Elected
	Labour–Liberal	William George Baker	4,704	32.83%	Y
	Liberal	William Erskine Knowles	4,095	28.58%	Y
	Conservative	James Pascoe	2,809	19.60%
	Conservative	Netson Ross Craig	2,722	18.99%
Total			14,330	100.00%

By-election: On Mr. Scott's resignation to enter provincial politics in Saskatchewan, 29 August 1905.

By-election on 6 February 1906
Party		Candidate	Votes
	Liberal	William Erskine Knowles	acclaimed

References

• William Erskine Knowles – Parliament of Canada biography
• The Canadian Parliament; biographical sketches and photo-engravures of the senators and members of the House of Commons of Canada. Being the tenth Parliament, elected November 3, 1904