Samuel Knaggs

Who was Samuel Knaggs?

Sir Samuel William Knaggs, KCMG was a British colonial administrator.

Knaggs was born in Old Swindon, Wiltshire, England, the second of the ten children of Robert Knaggs, a surgeon, and Harriet Eliza Knaggs.

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

Knaggs was appointed Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George in 1908 and Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George in the 1920 New Year Honours.

In 1893, Knaggs married Violet Grey Harragin and they had a son and four daughters. Ruth Knaggs was born on 8 September 1893 and Phyllis Knaggs on 22 November 1895.