John Henry Knight

John Henry Knight

John Henry Knight (21 January 1847-22 September 1917) from Farnham was a wealthy engineer and inventor. He was the first person to be convicted of speeding in the UK after he built Britain’s first petrol-powered motor vehicle in 1895.

The three-wheeled, two-seater contraption had a top speed of only convert|12|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on, but it was enough for Knight to feel the long arm of the law.On 17 October 1895 Knight and his assistant James Pullinger were stopped in Castle Street, Farnham and charged with using a locomotive without a licence. The case was heard at Farnham Town Hall on 31 October 1895. Knight and Pullinger were both fined 2s 6d. Knight was restricted to using the car only on farm roads until the Locomotive Act was replaced by the Locomotives on the Highway Act, on 14 November 1896. He was later also responsible for the repeal of the notorious Red Flag legislation.

Knight's vehicle was said to be "almost silent" when it was running; the vehicle entered a limited production run in 1896 and shortly after that the tricycle was the only British car at the 1896 Horseless Carriage display at Crystal Palace, although the design was later changed in favour of a four wheel version. The car is currently on display at the National Motor Museum [ [http://www.3wheelers.com/knight.html 3-wheelers.com] ] .

Although best remembered for his car and his driving, he had, for many years, been an inventor and a designer of steam-powered digging machines. A rival designer, Frank Proctor, stated in an 1890 edition of the weekly magazine "Engineering" that "Mr Knight has undoubtedly earned the distinction of being one of the early pioneers in the system of steam digging". He had begun developing his first digging machine in 1872, specifically for working in hopfields, which are difficult to cultivate due to the incidence of the hop poles which support the strings up which the plants climb. "Digging by Steam" by Colin Tyler (published in 1977 by Argus Books Ltd) devotes a chapter to hop digging machines, many of which were designed and built by Knight, and which are illustrated with drawings or photos.

John Henry Knight lived in Weybourne House, Weybourne, Farnham, Surrey. The house still stands.

References

External links

* [http://www.waverley.gov.uk/ucca/ucca_museumshowcase/bestofclass/jkhphoto1.html John Henry Knight at The Museum of Farnham]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР

Look at other dictionaries:

  • John Henry Phelan — John Henry “Harry” Phelan (December 11, 1877 ndash; May 19, 1957), the secretary treasurer of the Yount Lee Oil Company, and later named as vice president and treasurer, had been associated with Miles Franklin Yount from the early days when Yount …   Wikipedia

  • John Henry Kerr — Sir John Henry Kerr, KCSI, KCIE (31 May 1871 ndash; 8 April 1934), colonial governor in British India, was born in Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland, the elder son (with three daughters), of John Smith Kerr, tea and sugar merchant of Greenock, and… …   Wikipedia

  • John Henry Orr — Sir John Henry Orr OBE QPM (1918 1995), was a Scottish police officer and was the first Chief Constable of the Lothian and Borders Police. He was also a former rugby union player.Born in 1918, John Orr was educated at George Heriot s School in… …   Wikipedia

  • John Grey (knight) — Sir John Grey KG (c. 1387 – August 27, 1439), English nobleman and soldier, was the eldest son of Reginald Grey, 3rd Baron Grey de Ruthyn and Margaret Roos. He was a 13th generation descendant of King Stephen of England.[1] He fought at the… …   Wikipedia

  • William Henry Knight — (26 September 1823 1863) was an English painter. He was born at Newbury, Berkshire where his father was a schoolmaster. He was to become a solicitor, but gave up his law studies and became a portrait painter in London after two of his paintings… …   Wikipedia

  • Newman, John Henry — • Lengthy and admiring biography of Newman as a thinker, author, leader, and illustrious convert to Catholicism Catholic Encyclopedia. Kevin Knight. 2006. Newman, John Henry      …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • Henry VIII of England — Henry VIII redirects here. For other uses, see Henry VIII (disambiguation). Henry VIII …   Wikipedia

  • Henry the Young King — Henry Junior King of the English Reign 1170–1183 Coronation 14 June 1170 27 August 1172 Senior king Henry II …   Wikipedia

  • Henry Cotton (Golfer) — Henry Cotton Nationalität: England  England Karrieredaten Profi seit: 1924 Turniersiege …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • John Bell (bishop) — John Bell LL. D ( d. 1556) was Bishop of Worcester (1539 1543), who served during the reign of Henry VIII of England. Anglican PortalReformationThe advent of movable type during the renaissance and its further innovation by Gutenberg, Fust, and… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”