John T. Knight

Last updated October 8, 2026

John T. Knight, closely connected with mercantile interests of Miami as the proprietor of a large ladies’ and men’s furnishing store, is one of the progressive and enterprising business men of the city and has been a resident of Florida since 1889. He was born in London, England, June 8, 1870, and is a son of George and Sarah (Hyatt) Knight, also natives of that country. The father was a potter by trade and when he left London went to Australia, locating in Hobart, Tasmania, where he resided for a number of years. He died in Sydney and is survived by his wife, who makes her home in Melbourne.

John T. Knight was fourteen years of age when he went with his parents to Hobart, Australia, but he remained there only a short time for when he was not yet fifteen he went to seek his fortune, traveling all over Australia for a year and a half, engaging in sheep-shearing and in other occupations. He afterward went to sea and spent four years aboard ship, traveling over practically all of the waters of the globe. Landing at Pensacola, Florida, in 1889, he has since made his home in that state. He was for a number of years engaged in the lumber business at Freeport and while there served one term as county commissioner of Walton county. In 1907 he came to Dade county as superintendent of the Drake Lumber Company’s sawmill at Princeton and he spent four years in this position, resigning in order to come to Miami, where he opened a ladies’ and men’s furnishing store which he has since conducted, having been accorded a liberal patronage in recognition of his straightforward and honorable business methods and his reasonable prices.

On the 8th of June, 1890, Mr. Knight was united in marriage to Miss Idell Baker, of Freeport, Florida, who died December 31, 1910. Mr. Knight is a member of the Miami Board of Trade and is active in advancing the general business interests of the city. He is prominent in the Masonic order, having attained the thirty-second degree according to the Scottish Rite and holding membership in the lodge, of which he is a past master, the chapter, the commandery and the shrine. He is a steward in the Methodist Episcopal church, South, and is a man of exemplary and upright character, well entitled to a foremost place among the representative and respected citizens of Miami.