Benjamin Knight

Benjamin Brayton Knight
Born	1813-10-03 Cranston, Rhode Island, U.S.
Died	1898-06-04 Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Industrialist, philanthropist, businessman
Known for	Co-founder of B. B. & R. Knight Company and Fruit of the Loom

Benjamin Brayton Knight (1813–1898) was a notable industrialist and philanthropist from New England. Alongside his brother Robert Knight, he co-managed the B. B. & R. Knight Company, which emerged as one of the foremost textile producers worldwide by the time of his passing. He also played a key role in establishing the well-known brand Fruit of the Loom.

Biography

Benjamin Brayton Knight was born in Cranston, Rhode Island on October 3, 1813, to parents Stephen Knight and Weltham Brayton. He spent his early years working on the family farm until age eighteen, after which he took a position at Sprague Print Works in Cranston. In 1835, he briefly operated a grocery store near the print works before returning to agricultural work.

In 1838, Knight relocated to Providence and launched Winsor, Knight & Company, a grocery enterprise that eventually transformed into B. B. Knight & Co., partnering with his brother Jeremiah. Subsequently, he entered into a partnership with D. T. Penniman in the flour and grain business under Penniman, Knight & Company. After acquiring Penniman’s share, Benjamin ran the company solo until 1849 when he sold it to Jeremiah. By 1852, he sold half of his flour and grain interests to Robert Knight and simultaneously purchased a half stake in Pontiac Mill and Bleachery from him, thereby creating B. B. and R. Knight. The brothers then concentrated exclusively on textile manufacturing, expanding their company into the largest textile producer globally.

The firm further grew in 1877 through the acquisition of the Dedham Manufacturing Company located on Mother Brook in Dedham, Massachusetts.

In addition to his industrial pursuits, Benjamin Knight served in political capacities including as a member of the Rhode Island General Assembly and as a city alderman. He was also active in banking and insurance sectors.

Knight married Alice W. Collins in 1842; they had three children before her death in 1850. He remarried Phebe A. Slocum in 1851 and fathered two additional children.

He passed away on June 4, 1898, in Providence and was interred at Swan Point Cemetery.

See also

• River Point, Rhode Island
• Royal Mill Complex
• Lippitt Mill
• Valley Queen Mill