John F. Knott | |
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Born | |
Died | February 16, 1963 | (aged 84)
Known for | Cartooning |
John Francis Knott (December 7, 1878 – February 16, 1963) was an Austro-Hungarian and American cartoonist. He was born in Plzeň, Austria-Hungary, and emigrated to Sioux City, Iowa with his widowed mother at the age of five.[1]
Knott started working at The Dallas Morning News in 1905. He drew daily cartoons in the paper during Woodrow Wilson's first presidential campaign and World War I.[1] His works used to be marked with his distinct, signature style of incisive humor through simple and effective portrayal of Texan life.[2] Knott's most famous cartoon character "Old Man Texas" was a champion for government honesty, low taxes, and property ownership. It is believed his cartoons supporting American entry into World War I helped increase the sales of Liberty Bonds and donations towards the war effort.[1]
Knott's cartoons were reprinted in several publications including The Literary Digest, Review of Reviews, The Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times,[1] New York Evening Post, the New York Herald Tribune, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, and the Philadelphia Public Ledger.[3]