John Knight

John William Knight (20 November 19434 March 1981) was an Australian politician and diplomat. He was a member of the Liberal Party and served as a Senator for the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) from 1975 until his death in 1981, as one of the first two senators from the ACT.

Knight was born and raised in Armidale, New South Wales. He completed a history degree at the University of New England and later undertook postgraduate studies at the University of Hawaii. He joined the Department of External Affairs on graduating and held diplomatic posts in India, Fiji and Saudi Arabia. He also briefly worked as senior private secretary to Liberal opposition leader Billy Snedden.

In 1975, the ACT and the Northern Territory each became entitled to elect two senators to the Senate, and John Knight (Liberal) and Susan Ryan (Labor) were elected as the ACT's first two senators on 13 December 1975. He was re-elected at the 1977 election. John Knight represented the Commonwealth government at the bicentenary celebrations of Captain James Cook's arrival in Hawaii, in January 1978. In March 1978 he was appointed the Government Deputy Whip in the Senate.

Early life Knight was born on 20 November 1943 in Armidale, New South Wales. He was one of two children born to Myrane Ruth (née Porter) and Jack Albert Knight. His father was a grocer, Royal Australian Navy veteran, and former merchant seaman, while his mother worked as a dressmaker.

Knight was educated at Armidale Demonstration School and Armidale High School, where he was the school captain. He went on to study history at the University of New England, graduating Bachelor of Arts (Hons.) in 1965. He was later awarded a grant by the East–West Center to study at the University of Hawaii, completing his Master of Arts thesis on Pakistani leader Muhammad Ali Jinnah. After his initial training he was posted to the South Asia section. He learned Hindi and in 1966 was sent to India as third secretary at the Australian High Commission in New Delhi. After a period back in Australia, Knight was posted to Fiji in 1969 where he served as second secretary and first secretary. He took leave without pay in 1973 to join the office of Liberal opposition leader Billy Snedden as senior private secretary, where he was an influential adviser on foreign policy.

Knight was chosen as a deputy whip in 1978 and succeeded Peter Baume as government whip following the 1980 election. He was active on a number of Senate committees, notably as a long-serving member of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence. Knight died in hospital on 4 March 1981, aged 37. He was cremated with his ashes scattered at the Norwood Park Crematorium in Canberra and over Mount Duval near his home town of Armidale.