Jonathan KNIGHT, Congress, PA (1787-1858)

KNIGHT, Jonathan, a Representative from Pennsylvania; born in Bucks County, Pa., November 22, 1787; moved with his parents to East Bethlehem, Washington County, Pa., in 1801; attended the common schools; became a civil engineer; appointed by the State in 1816 to make and report on a map of Washington County; elected county commissioner and served three years; assisted in the preliminary surveys of the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal and the national road between Cumberland, Md., and Wheeling, Va. (now West Virginia); member of the State house of representatives 1822-1828; entered the service of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Co. and visited England to pursue further studies in engineering; upon his return in 1830 was appointed chief engineer of that company and served until 1842; engaged in agricultural pursuits; secretary of the first agricultural society organized in Washington County; elected as an Opposition Party candidate to the Thirty-fourth Congress (March 4, 1855-March 3, 1857); unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1856 to the Thirty-fifth Congress and for election in 1858 to the Thirty-sixth Congress; resumed agricultural pursuits near East Bethlehem, Pa.; died November 22, 1858; interment in West Land Cemetery, near West Brownsville, Washington County, Pa.

Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1771-Present