Hiram Knowles

Who was Hiram Knowles?

Hiram Knowles is a former United States federal judge.

Born in Penobscot, Maine, Knowles attended Antioch College and received an LL.B. from Harvard Law School in 1860. He was in private practice in Keokuk, Iowa from 1860 to 1862, then in Dayton, Missouri in 1862 and in Humboldt County, Nevada from 1862 to 1863. He was a district attorney of Humboldt County from 1863 to 1864, and a Humboldt County probate judge from 1864 to 1865 before resuming his private practice in Deer Lodge, Montana from 1866 to 1868. He was an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Territory of Montana from 1868 to 1879. He was again in private practice in Butte, Montana from 1879 to 1890.

On January 6, 1890, Knowles was nominated by President Benjamin Harrison to a new seat on the United States District Court for the District of Montana created by 25 Stat. 676. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on February 21, 1890, and received his commission the same day. Knowles retired from the bench on April 15, 1904. He returned to private practice, in Missoula, Montana, until his death in 1911.