Famous Masons

Many men throughout history have been members of our fraternity.

In these pages we will present you with them and try to impress upon you the great men that have been Masons.

Famous Mason Categories
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Photo of William Franklin Knox

William Knox

U.S. Secretary of the Navy
Birthday: January 1, 1874 Deceased: April 28, 1944

Biography

American newspaper editor and publisher. He was also the Republican vice presidential candidate in 1936, and Secretary of the Navy under Franklin D. Roosevelt during most of World War II. During the Spanish?American War, he joined the Army, and served in Cuba with Theodore Roosevelt’s famous Rough Riders, the 1st US Volunteer Cavalry Regiment. He was a member of Troop D commanded by Captain Robert Huston. As a member of D Troop, Knox fought in Cuba at the Battle of Las Guasimas, and the Battle of San Juan Hill. After the war, Knox became a newspaper reporter in Grand Rapids. This was the beginning of a career that included ownership of several papers.