John Knowles

John Knowles (1810–1880) was an English businessman who is well known as the proprietor of the Theatre Royal on Peter Street, Manchester from 1844 to 1875. He was also a manufacturer of marble chimneypieces.

Biography John Knowles was born in Chapel Street, London Road, Manchester. He was the son of a successful businessman, whose many business interests included, as well as that of a coal merchant, the manufacturing of "British and Italian marble chimney-pieces by machinery" and the proprietorship of the Peacock Office at 105 Market Street, from which the famous "Peveril of the Peak" coach made its journey from Manchester to London. His greatest business venture was that of the Theatre Royal, in which he was the proprietor for more thirty years. In later life, Knowles lived at Trafford Bank House, Old Trafford. He was married to Susan and had three children. Knowles died in February 1880, aged sixty-nine years old.

Theatre Royal John Knowles was presented a plate by his friends who were full of praise for him in 1844. He received this "in acknowledgement of his energetic and successful efforts to revive national drama in Manchester".

Knowles's theatrical career began at the time when the theatre in Manchester was at its lowest ebb. Knowles took over the management of the second Theatre Royal in Fountain Street; he set up a strong stock company and proved himself a very capable, though somewhat authoritarian, theatre manager. Knowles employed Francis Chester and John Gould Irwin as the architects for his new theatre. In preparation for the building of the new Theatre Royal, Knowles and Chester went to London and visited most of the metropolitan theatres, noting their areas, internal forms, acoustic capabilities, etc. With a cost of £23,000, the new Theatre Royal opened to an audience of 2,500. Precautionary measures against fire were taken by placing a tank on the roof capable of holding 20,000 gallons of water, which was connected by pipes to the stage and the green room. regarding the types of dramatic genres that attracted audiences at provincial theatres. He was asked whether 'the higher class of drama answers' or whether 'successful speculation is confined to pantomime, burlesque, and kindred pieces?' Knowles answered that for most provincial theatres 'Pantomime is the attraction throughout the kingdom; it is the sheet-anchor of the drama at the present moment'.

Other work Knowles was a clever financier; he gave loans to other companies, securing through them favourable terms for his company, and he was also lessee for His Majesty's Theatre in London's Haymarket. After the successful run of this, Knowles and the Committee stated that they would carry out a similar festival, but on a larger scale.

Legacy Knowles was felt by many to be arrogant and overbearing in business, but others admired his quick understanding and thoroughness, all agreeing on his wit and hospitality in his private life. He was one of the most successful managers of the Theatre Royal, resurrecting it from its ashes and reviving the theatrical culture of Manchester.