Robert Knight (industrialist)
Encyclopedia
Robert Knight was a New England
industrialist and philanthropist, who was a partner with his brother Benjamin Knight
in B. B. & R. Knight and was one of the largest textile
manufacturers in the world when he died in 1912. He co-founded the large and famous brand, Fruit of the Loom
, now owned by Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway
.
on January 8th, 1826 to Stephen Knight and Weltham Brayton. After moving to Cranston, Rhode Island
, Knight's father put Robert to work in the Cranston Print Works when he was only eight years old. Knight later worked in Coventry, Rhode Island
for Elisha Harris
until he was 17 years old working for $1.25 per week. In 1843 Knight began working for his brother Benjamin as a store clerk. Two years later with the help of a friend, Knight studied for a year and a half at Pawcatuck Academy in Westerly, Rhode Island after which he taught school in Exeter, Rhode Island
for four months.
as a clerk in his factory store at Arnold's Bridge, now Pontiac, Rhode Island
. After Clark was elected to the U.S. Senate, Knight and a partner purchased the business and became owners of the Pontiac Mills
. In 1852 Knight with his brother, Benjamin Knight
formed B. B. and R. Knight a manufacturing and grain firm. Later along with other partners, they formed and purchased numerous manufacturing operations in New England. The brothers also became involved in the banking and insurance industries. The Knights built employee housing, mill villages, and donated funds to build various denominations of churches for the mill workers. In 1851 Knight formed Fruit of the Loom
and trademarked the well known fruit trademark in the 1870s soon after the trademark registry was established. By his death in 1912, the New York Times listed Knight as the largest cotton manufacturer in the world.
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
industrialist and philanthropist, who was a partner with his brother Benjamin Knight
Benjamin Knight
Benjamin Knight was a New England industrialist and philanthropist, who was a partner with his brother Robert Knight in the B. B. & R. Knight Company and was one of the largest textile manufacturers in the world when he died in 1898...
in B. B. & R. Knight and was one of the largest textile
Textile
A textile or cloth is a flexible woven material consisting of a network of natural or artificial fibres often referred to as thread or yarn. Yarn is produced by spinning raw fibres of wool, flax, cotton, or other material to produce long strands...
manufacturers in the world when he died in 1912. He co-founded the large and famous brand, Fruit of the Loom
Fruit of the Loom
Fruit of the Loom is an American company which manufactures clothing, particularly underwear. The company's world headquarters is in Bowling Green, Kentucky. It is currently a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway.-Company profile:...
, now owned by Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway
Berkshire Hathaway
Berkshire Hathaway Inc. is an American multinational conglomerate holding company headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, United States, that oversees and manages a number of subsidiary companies. The company averaged an annual growth in book value of 20.3% to its shareholders for the last 44 years,...
.
Early life
Knight was born in Old Warwick, Rhode IslandWarwick, Rhode Island
Warwick is a city in Kent County, Rhode Island, United States. It is the second largest city in the state, with a population of 82,672 at the 2010 census. Its mayor has been Scott Avedisian since 2000...
on January 8th, 1826 to Stephen Knight and Weltham Brayton. After moving to Cranston, Rhode Island
Cranston, Rhode Island
Cranston, once known as Pawtuxet, is a city in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. With a population of 80,387 at the 2010 census, it is the third largest city in the state. The center of population of Rhode Island is located in Cranston...
, Knight's father put Robert to work in the Cranston Print Works when he was only eight years old. Knight later worked in Coventry, Rhode Island
Coventry, Rhode Island
Coventry is a town in Kent County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 35,014 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of . of it is land and of it is water...
for Elisha Harris
Elisha Harris
Elisha Harris of Coventry, Kent County, Rhode Island, was Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island, 1846–47 and the 20th Governor of Rhode Island 1847–49....
until he was 17 years old working for $1.25 per week. In 1843 Knight began working for his brother Benjamin as a store clerk. Two years later with the help of a friend, Knight studied for a year and a half at Pawcatuck Academy in Westerly, Rhode Island after which he taught school in Exeter, Rhode Island
Exeter, Rhode Island
Exeter is a town in Washington County, Rhode Island, United States. Exeter extends east from the Connecticut border to the town of North Kingstown. It is bordered to the north by West Greenwich and East Greenwich, and to the south by Hopkinton, Richmond and South Kingstown. Exeter's postal code...
for four months.
Manufacturing career
In 1846 Knight was employed by John Hopkins ClarkeJohn Hopkins Clarke
John Hopkins Clarke was a United States Senator from Rhode Island. Born in Elizabeth, New Jersey, he moved to Providence where he studied under a private teacher. He graduated from Brown University in 1809, studied law, admitted to the bar and commenced practice in Providence in 1812...
as a clerk in his factory store at Arnold's Bridge, now Pontiac, Rhode Island
Pontiac, Rhode Island
Pontiac is a historic village in Warwick, Rhode Island and Cranston, Rhode Island.-History:Native Americans referred to the area as "Papepieset" or "Toskiounke." After arriving in 1642, the early English settlers called the area "Great Weir" because fishing weirs were used to catch fish near the...
. After Clark was elected to the U.S. Senate, Knight and a partner purchased the business and became owners of the Pontiac Mills
Pontiac Mills
Pontiac Mills are historic mills on Knight Street in the village of Pontiac, Rhode Island within the town of Warwick, Rhode Island. The mills produced the original Fruit of the Loom brand clothing....
. In 1852 Knight with his brother, Benjamin Knight
Benjamin Knight
Benjamin Knight was a New England industrialist and philanthropist, who was a partner with his brother Robert Knight in the B. B. & R. Knight Company and was one of the largest textile manufacturers in the world when he died in 1898...
formed B. B. and R. Knight a manufacturing and grain firm. Later along with other partners, they formed and purchased numerous manufacturing operations in New England. The brothers also became involved in the banking and insurance industries. The Knights built employee housing, mill villages, and donated funds to build various denominations of churches for the mill workers. In 1851 Knight formed Fruit of the Loom
Fruit of the Loom
Fruit of the Loom is an American company which manufactures clothing, particularly underwear. The company's world headquarters is in Bowling Green, Kentucky. It is currently a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway.-Company profile:...
and trademarked the well known fruit trademark in the 1870s soon after the trademark registry was established. By his death in 1912, the New York Times listed Knight as the largest cotton manufacturer in the world.