Introduction

Biography

Joseph was the son of Fran­cis Knight, vi­car of Brad­ford-on-Avon.

He stu­died un­der John Da­vis Corfe, or­gan­ist at Bris­tol Ca­thed­ral, and be­gan com­pos­ing around age 20.

In 1839, he vi­sit­ed Am­eri­ca, and for a year taught mu­sic in the school in Ver­mont run by Em­ma Wil­lard. It was there that he wrote the mu­sic for Rocked in the Cra­dle of the Deep. He re­turned to Eng­land in 1841.

Some years lat­er, he took Ho­ly Or­ders, was or­dained by the Bi­shop of Exe­ter and be­came vic­ar of St. Ag­nes, Isles of Scil­ly.

He stayed at St. Ag­nes two years, then mar­ried, and went to live abroad, lat­er re­turn­ing to Eng­land and re­sum­ing com­po­sing.