KNIGHT, CHARLES (1808-91) was born at Rye, Sussex, the youngest child of James Knight (who died a month after his birth). Two years later his mother married Thomas Godfrey, of Hawkhurst, Kent, by whom he was brought up with care and affection. He graduated in medicine at Guy's Hospital (F.R.C.S. 1869) and after practising for a while went to America.

In 1841 he decided to go to Australia, whither his brother William had gone in 1829 (afterwards to become auditor-general of Western Australia). Charles accepted the position of surgeon in the ship Lord Glenelg, in which Sir George Grey was sailing to assume the governorship of South Australia. Owing to drunkenness and mutinous behaviour on board, Knight took an active part in navigating the ship and actually commanded her from Port Albany to Holdfast Bay, where she arrived on 10 May. Soon after landing he was employed by Grey as a copying clerk. He had a good knowledge of botany and in 1842 sought unsuccessfully to be appointed curator of the botanic gardens, believing that he could extend the science of botany and horticulture and greatly improve the collection by exchanges with Europe and America. Grey appreciated Knight's 'cheerful and unwearying industry' and in 1843 confirmed his appointment in the Colonial Secretary's department. He acted as private secretary and had charge of the preparation of all blue books and other statistical returns for the Home government.

In 1844 Knight married Caroline Symes, who had arrived in the colony in 1839. In the following year the East India Company's ship Elphinstone arrived, bringing Grey's commission as Governor in New Zealand. Grey took Knight to the new government for the sake of his knowledge of finance and official routine. Arriving in Nov 1845, he was appointed auditor-general in Feb 1846 and at the end of that year he brought his wife and two children from Australia in the schooner John Lord, 70 tons. Wynyard, who succeeded Grey as administrator, depended much on Knight's knowledge of finance. In 1856 Knight was appointed manager of the colonial bank of issue, and in 1858 auditor of the accounts of the general Government. In 1861 he was deputed to inquire into charges against Macandrew (q.v.) of defalcation of provincial funds in Otago. In 1863 he was a member of the commission to investigate the claims for flax rewards.

On the removal of the seat of government Knight was appointed agent of the Government at Auckland for a short period. He was chairman of the commission in 1866 to investigate the civil service, and in 1867 was charged with bringing into operation the money order and savings bank. In 1868-69 he visited England with Grey, and on his return went with Vogel and Seed to negotiate a customs and mail agreement in Australia. He was a member of the board of advice under the Government annuities act 1869; was appointed auditor-general in 1870, and a commissioner of the board of audit in 1872.

Six years later Knight retired on pension. He lived thereafter in Wellington until his death on 3 Sep 1891. In 1857 Knight was elected a fellow of the Linnaean Society. His special study was lichens, his collection being now at Victoria College. He was president of the Wellington Philosophical Society (to which he presented various papers) and a fellow of the New Zealand Institute. He was a skilled lathe worker and received a silver medal for lathe tools at the first Wellington exhibition. Knight was aboard the White Swan when she was wrecked (1862).

South Aust. Archives; Evening Post, 4 Sep 1891; information from Dr C. Prendergast Knight. Portrait: General Assembly Library.

Reference: Volume 1, page 253

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