Jump to content

John Knott (public servant)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sir John Knott
Secretary of the Department of Defence Production
In office
8 August 1957 – 23 April 1958
Secretary of the Department of Supply
In office
13 October 1959 – 12 March 1966
Director-General of the Postmaster-General's Department
In office
12 December 1968 – 14 January 1972
Personal details
Born
John Lawrence Knott

(1910-07-06)6 July 1910
Romsey, Victoria
Died1999 (aged 88–89)
NationalityAustralia Australian
Alma materUniversity of Melbourne
OccupationPublic servant

Sir John Lawrence Knott AC CBE (6 July 1910 – 1999) was a senior Australian public servant. He was Director-General of the Postmaster-General's Department from 1968 to 1972. Afterwards he was appointed a company director in private industry.

Life and career

[edit]

Knott was born in Romsey, Victoria on 6 July 1910.[1]

Between August 1957 and April 1958, Knott headed the Department of Defence Production.[2]

He was Secretary of the Department of Supply between 1959 and 1966.[3] During his time in the role, he accompanied Minister for Supply Allen Fairhall overseas visiting the United Kingdom and the United States on departmental business.[4]

In 1966, Knott was appointed Deputy High Commissioner London.[1] At the end of his term in November 1968, when he had been already appointed to head the Postmaster-General's Department starting the following month, Knott attended the UN World Space Conference in Vienna.[5]

Between December 1968 and January 1972, Knott was Director-General of the Postmaster-General's Department.[6]

In 1972, Knott was appointed to the board of Equity Trustees and Agency Co Ltd.[7]

Awards

[edit]
  • While Deputy Secretary of the Defence Production Department in January 1957, Knott was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire.[8] He was promoted to Commander of the Order in December 1960 whilst Secretary of the Department of Supply.[9]
  • Knott was appointed a Knight Bachelor in June 1971 for his public service.[10] He was made a Companion of the Order of Australia in 1981.[11]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Biographical entry: Knott, John Laurence (1910-1999), Encyclopedia of Australian Science, archived from the original on 1 October 2014
  2. ^ CA 58: Department of Defence Production, Central Administration, National Archives of Australia, retrieved 28 September 2014
  3. ^ CA 57: Department of Supply, Central Office, National Archives of Australia, archived from the original on 2 August 2020, retrieved 17 December 2013
  4. ^ Gorton, John (12 May 1963). "Minister for Supply to go overseas" (Press release). Archived from the original on 6 December 2014.
  5. ^ "Mr Knott for space talks". The Canberra Times. 9 November 1968. p. 9.
  6. ^ CA 9: Postmaster-General's Department, Central Administration, National Archives of Australia, archived from the original on 11 March 2020, retrieved 21 November 2014
  7. ^ "Public servants in industry". The Canberra Times. 27 January 1972. p. 21.
  8. ^ "Search Australian Honours: KNOTT, John Lawrence", itsanhonour.gov.au, Australian Government, archived from the original on 1 December 2018
  9. ^ "Search Australian Honours: KNOTT, John Lawrence", itsanhonour.gov.au, Australian Government, archived from the original on 1 December 2018
  10. ^ "Search Australian Honours: KNOTT, John Laurence", itsanhonour.gov.au, Australian Government, archived from the original on 1 December 2018
  11. ^ "Sir John (Laurence) Knott, CBE". It's An Honour. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
Government offices
Preceded by Secretary of the Department of Defence Production
1957 – 1958
Succeeded byas Secretary of the Department of Supply
Preceded by Secretary of the Department of Supply
1959 – 1966
Succeeded by
Preceded by Director-General of the Postmaster-General's Department
1968 – 1972
Succeeded by
E.F. Lane