George Hodges Knox

Sir George Hodges Knox, CMG, VD (17 December 1885 – 11 July 1960) was an Australian politician, orchardist and military officer. The City of Knox is named after him.

Brigadier Sir George Hodges Knox CMG, VD
Knox in 1940
Speaker of the Victorian Legislative Assembly
In office 21 October 1942 – 9 October 1947
Preceded by	Bill Slater
Succeeded by	Sir Thomas Maltby
Member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly for Scoresby
In office 10 November 1945 – 11 July 1960
Preceded by	New division
Succeeded by	Bill Borthwick
Member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly for Upper Yarra
In office 9 April 1927 – October 1945
Preceded by	New division
Succeeded by	Division abolished
Personal details
Born	(1885-12-17)17 December 1885 Prahran, Victoria
Died	11 July 1960(1960-07-11) (aged 74) Ferntree Gully, Victoria
Nationality	Australian
Political party	Nationalist Party (1918–31) United Australia Party (1931–45) Liberal Party (1945–60)
Spouses	Kathleen Purves MacPherson ​ ​ (m. 1909; div. 1919)​ Ada Victoria Harris ​ (m. 1921)​
Parent	William Knox (father)
Education	Scotch College, Melbourne
Occupation	Engineer, soldier, orchardist, politician
Civilian awards	Knight Bachelor
Military service
Allegiance	Australia
Branch/service	Australian Army
Years of service	1909–1942
Rank	Brigadier
Commands	Queenscliff-Nepean Covering Force (1942) 2nd Infantry Brigade (1940–42) 5th Battalion (1939–40) 52nd Battalion (1922–27) 48th Battalion (1921–22) No. 1 Command Depot (1916–18) 23rd Battalion (1915–16)
Battles/wars	First World War Gallipoli Campaign Western Front Second World War
Military awards	Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers' Decoration Mentioned in Despatches (2)

Knox was born in the Melbourne suburb of Prahran on 17 December 1885 and educated at Scotch College, Melbourne. He was the son of William Knox, who had been a member of the Victorian Legislative Council between 1897 and 1901, and the member for Kooyong in the House of Representatives.^[1]

Knox began his working life as an electrical engineer. He married Kathleen Purves MacPherson in 1909. Soon after, he moved to Beaconsfield, Victoria, to establish an orchard. He joined the Citizen Military Forces in 1909 and served during the First World War, commanding the 23rd Battalion. He divorced in 1919. In 1920 he moved to Ferntree Gully, Victoria. He married Ada Victoria Harris in 1921. He was elected to the Fern Tree Gully Shire Council in 1923.^[1]

In 1927, Knox won the Victorian Legislative Assembly seat of Upper Yarra for the Nationalist Party. He became Speaker of the Victorian Legislative Assembly in 1942 and remained in that role until 1947. Between 1945 and 1960 he held the seat of Scoresby.^[1]