Who appointed John Power Knowles?

President Ulysses Grant appointed John Power Knowles to the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island in 1870.

Was John Power Knowles appointed by a Democrat or a Republican?

John Power Knowles was appointed by President Ulysses Grant, a Republican. JudicialFinder records the appointing president's party, not a judge's own politics.

What was John Power Knowles's confirmation vote?

John Power Knowles was confirmed by voice vote on January 24, 1870. No senator-by-senator tally was recorded.

District of Rhode Island / Appointed 1870 / Served to 1881

John Power Knowles

Judge, U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island

Appointed by President Ulysses Grant in 1870 and confirmed by voice vote, John Power Knowles was a Judge on the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island. He earned a law degree from Harvard Law School in 1838. Sources ↓

Lived: 1808–1887
Appointed by: Ulysses Grant, 1870
Confirmed: by voice vote
Education: Brown 1836 · Harvard Law School 1838
Succeeded: Jonathan Russell Bullock
Succeeded by: LeBaron Bradford Colt

Federal judicial service

Year	Court	Appointed by	Vote
1870	District of Rhode Island succeeded Jonathan Russell Bullock	Grant (R)	Voice vote

Party letters show the appointing president’s party, not the judge’s own. A voice vote means the chamber approved aloud. No senator-by-senator tally is recorded.

Confirmation vote

Voice vote

The Senate approved this confirmation aloud, with no senator-by-senator tally recorded. Recorded roll-call votes begin in 1989.

Education

Brown University	A.B.	1836
Harvard Law School	LL.B.	1838

Questions & answers

Who appointed John Power Knowles?: President Ulysses Grant appointed John Power Knowles to the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island in 1870.
Was John Power Knowles appointed by a Democrat or a Republican?: John Power Knowles was appointed by President Ulysses Grant, a Republican. JudicialFinder records the appointing president's party, not a judge's own politics.
What was John Power Knowles's confirmation vote?: John Power Knowles was confirmed by voice vote on January 24, 1870. No senator-by-senator tally was recorded.
Which court was John Power Knowles on?: John Power Knowles was a Judge on the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island.

Sources

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11 years on the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island. Data as of 2026-08-10. Informational only; verify against the primary source before relying. Not a consumer report (FCRA).