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Leonard Knowles

1916 – 1999

Bahamian judge

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About Leonard Knowles

Lived 1916 – 1999 (aged 83). Leonard Knowles was a judge.

Sir Leonard Joseph Knowles, CBE (15 March 1916 – 23 September 1999) was the first Chief Justice of an independent Bahamas.

Early life and education Knowles was born in Nassau, Bahamas, and was educated at Queen's College, Nassau before going to King's College London where he took an LLB in law in 1937. In 1935, he joined Gray's Inn in London and was called to the bar in 1939. Knowles worked on Northern Circuit in Liverpool.

Knowles was later admitted to the Bahamas Bar and appointed Assistant Attorney-General of the Bahamas in 1948. In 1973, he became the first Chief Justice in the newly independent Bahamas, a position he held until 1978. He had to be sworn in before the Bahamian Independence Day on 10 July 1973 because it was his duty to swear in the first prime minister. He was made CBE in 1963, and Knight Bachelor in the Queen's 1974 Birthday Honours.

Later life and death After his retirement, he moved to the United States to live with his son in Macon, Georgia. He died on 23 September 1999.

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Important facts

Birth century
Occupation
Education
King's College London, The Dickson Poon School of Law
Awards
Commander of the Order of the British Empire; Knight Bachelor
Also known as
Sir Leonard Joseph Knowles

People in Leonard Knowles's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Leonard Knowles's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Leonard Knowles?

Bahamian judge

When was Leonard Knowles born?

Leonard Knowles was born on 15 March 1916 in Nassau.

When did Leonard Knowles die?

Leonard Knowles died on 23 September 1999.

What was Leonard Knowles's occupation?

Leonard Knowles was a judge.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Leonard Knowles

· Wikidata: Q6525464

· DBpedia: Leonard Knowles

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Leonard Knowles. https://biography.guide/leonard-knowles/

MLA: "Leonard Knowles." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/leonard-knowles/.

Chicago: "Leonard Knowles." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/leonard-knowles/.

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