John Henry Knight, from Farnham, was a wealthy engineer, landowner and inventor. With the help of the engineer George Parfitt he built one of Britain's first petrol-powered motor vehicles, Frederick Bremer of Walthamstow having built the first in 1892. On 17 October 1895, with his assistant James Pullinger, they drove through Farnham, Surrey, whereupon he was prosecuted for using a locomotive with neither a licence nor a man walking in front with a red flag. This is sometimes misreported as the first person to be convicted of speeding in the UK, but that sobriquet subsequently fell to Walter Arnold of East Peckham, Kent, in January 1896.
John Henry Knight, English engineer (born 1847)
On September 22, in the year 1917, John Henry Knight, English engineer (born 1847). This event is recorded as a Notable Deaths event in the history of September 22, one of 440 recorded events on this date across all of history.
1 notable person is associated with this event, including John Henry Knight (inventor). Learn more below.
Key Facts
- This event took place on September 22, 1917 (AD era).
- It is categorised as a Notable Deaths event in recorded history.
- Referenced in 1 Wikipedia article.
- 1 notable person is recorded as involved in or associated with this event.
- Wikipedia source last updated on 17 May 2026.
On This Date in History 440
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