| Office | President pro tempore of the Wisconsin Senate |
|---|---|
| Term start | January 1967 |
| Term end | January 1975 |
| Predecessor | Frank E. Panzer |
| Successor | Fred Risser |
| State 1 | Wisconsin |
| State senate 1 | Wisconsin |
| District 1 | 10th |
| Term start 1 | April 19, 1955 |
| Term end 1 | January 3, 1977 |
| Predecessor 1 | Warren P. Knowles |
| Successor 1 | Michele Radosevich |
| Party | Republican |
| Birth date | February 25, 1916 |
| Birth place | River Falls, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Death date | November 3, 1985 (aged 69) |
| Death place | St. Croix County, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Resting place | Immaculate Conception Catholic Cemetery, New Richmond, Wisconsin |
| Spouse | Madelyne Lucille Armstrong (m. 1941; ended 1985) |
| Relatives | Warren P. Knowles (brother) |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch | United States Army Army Air Corps |
| Rank | 1st Lieutenant |
| Service years | 1942–1945 |
| Battles | World War II |
Robert Pierce Knowles I (February 25, 1916 – November 3, 1985) was an American businessman and Republican politician. He served 22 years in the Wisconsin State Senate (1955–1977), representing several counties in western Wisconsin. He was the younger brother of Wisconsin Governor Warren P. Knowles (1965–1971).
Biography
Born in River Falls, Wisconsin, Knowles served in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. He then graduated from the University of Wisconsin–River Falls. He was in the insurance and real estate business. Knowles served in the Wisconsin State Senate from 1955 until 1975; his older brother was Warren P. Knowles, the 37th Governor of Wisconsin.[1][2] Knowles was defeated for re election in 1976 by Democrat Michele Radosevich 52%-48%.