Samuel William Knaggs

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Samuel William Knaggs (25 December 1856 – 31 December 1924) was born on Christmas Day 1856 in Old Swindon, Wiltshire, United Kingdom. He was the second of the nine children of Robert Knaggs and Harriet Eliza Wright.

He was sent to the Royal College in Trinidad, and entered the Trinidad Civil Service in 1876. In 1886 he was the secretary of the Commission to inquire into the road system. In 1897 he was Acting Commissioner for Tobago; in 1899 he was Chief Commissioner, Port of Spain; in 1901 he was Receiver General for Trinidad; in 1902 he was Acting Colonial secretary; in 1903 he was Colonial secretary for Barbados and in 1907 for Trinidad & Tobago. He administered the Government of Barbados in 1907-1910, 1912-1913 and 1915-1916. He retired in January 1919.

He had been awarded his C.M.G. in 1908 and in 1920 he received his knighthood, being made a K.C.M.G. (Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George).

In 1893 he had married Violet Grey Harragin and they had a son and four daughters. Ruth Knaggs was born on the 8th Sep 1883 and Phyllis Knaggs was born on the 22nd Nov 1885. Kenneth John Knaggs was born on the 9th Jan 1897 and was killed in action near Cambrai in France on the 16th March 1918 whilst a lieutenant in the 4th Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment and attached to the Royal Flying Corps. Hilda Knaggs was born on the 9th Aug 1898 and Dorothy on the 10th Oct 1904.

Sir Samuel William Knaggs died on the 31 December 1924 at his residence in Barbados. His wife, Violet Grey, died 28 February 1937 at 1 Perham Road, West Kensington leaving an estate of £2,342.