| Honorific-Prefix: | The Hon |
| Sir William Knox | |
| Honorific-Suffix: | OSJ, KSJI |
| Office: | 22nd Deputy Premier of Queensland |
| Term Start: | 13 August 1976 |
| Term End: | 9 October 1978 |
| Premier: | Joh Bjelke-Petersen |
| Predecessor: | Gordon Chalk |
| Successor: | Llew Edwards |
| Office1: | Leader of the Queensland Liberal Party Elections: 1977, 1986 |
| Term Start1: | 3 November 1983 |
| Term End1: | 31 January 1988 |
| Deputy1: | Bill Lickiss (1983–1986) Angus Innes (1986–1988) |
| Predecessor1: | Terry White |
| Successor1: | Angus Innes |
| Term Start2: | 13 August 1976 |
| Term End2: | 6 October 1978 |
| Deputy2: | Fred Campbell |
| Predecessor2: | Gordon Chalk |
| Successor2: | Llew Edwards |
| Office3: | Minister for Employment and Labour Relations |
| Term Start3: | 23 December 1980 |
| Term End3: | 18 August 1983 |
| Premier3: | Joh Bjelke-Petersen |
| Predecessor3: | Fred Campbell |
| Successor3: | Vince Lester |
| Office4: | Minister for Health |
| Term Start4: | 15 December 1978 |
| Term End4: | 23 December 1980 |
| Premier4: | Joh Bjelke-Petersen |
| Predecessor4: | Llew Edwards |
| Successor4: | Brian Austin |
| Order5: | 36th |
| Office5: | Treasurer of Queensland |
| Term Start5: | 13 August 1976 |
| Term End5: | 15 December 1978 |
| Premier5: | Joh Bjelke-Petersen |
| Predecessor5: | Gordon Chalk |
| Successor5: | Llew Edwards |
| Office6: | Deputy Leader of the Queensland Liberal Party |
| Term Start6: | 20 December 1971 |
| Term End6: | 13 August 1976 |
| Leader6: | Gordon Chalk |
| Predecessor6: | Peter Delamothe |
| Successor6: | Fred Campbell |
| Office7: | Attorney-General of Queensland and Minister for Justice |
| Term Start7: | 20 December 1971 |
| Term End7: | 13 August 1976 |
| Premier7: | Joh Bjelke-Petersen |
| Predecessor7: | Peter Delamothe |
| Successor7: | Bill Lickiss |
| Office8: | Minister for Transport |
| Term Start8: | 23 December 1965 |
| Term End8: | 20 June 1972 |
| Premier8: | Frank Nicklin Jack Pizzey Gordon Chalk Joh Bjelke-Petersen |
| Predecessor8: | Gordon Chalk |
| Successor8: | Keith Hooper |
| Constituency Am9: | Nundah |
| Assembly9: | Queensland Legislative |
| Term Start9: | 3 August 1957 |
| Term End9: | 2 December 1989 |
| Predecessor9: | Jim Hadley |
| Successor9: | Phil Heath |
| Birth Date: | 14 December 1927 |
| Birth Place: | Kew, Victoria |
| Party: | Liberal Party |
| Spouse: | Doris Alexia Ross[1] |
| Children: | 4 |
| Alma Mater: | Melbourne High School |
| Occupation: | Company secretary, Company director |
Sir William Edward Knox OSJ, KSJI (14 December 1927 – 22 September 2001)[2] was born in Kew, Victoria, Australia and was the Member of the Legislative Assembly of Queensland representing the district of Nundah for the Liberal Party between from 1957 to 1989.[2] He was Liberal leader in the Legislative Assembly of Queensland from 1976 to 1978 and again from 1983 to 1988 and was given life membership that same year.
He was born in Kew, Victoria to Edward Knox and Bessie Alice (née Thomas).
Knox was one of the founders of the Liberal Party in Queensland and together with Sir James Killen established the Young Liberal movement in this state in 1949.
A company secretary and manager by profession, Knox was Vice President of the Queensland Liberal Party between 1956 and 1957.
In 1957 he elected as the member for Nundah defeating Queensland Labor Party incumbent Jim Hadley, taking advantage of a split within Labor.
Knox entered the Ministry in 1965 as Transport Minister. He would later hold the portfolios of Health, Justice and Attorney-General.
After the retirement of Peter Delamothe in 1971 he was elected Deputy Liberal Leader, and in 1976 he succeeded Gordon Chalk as leader.
The Liberal's lost a net 6 seats at the 1977 election which led to his ousting as leader in favour of Llew Edwards in the hope that he would be more publicly assertive with Premier Bjelke-Petersen.[3]
When the Ginger Group replaced Llew Edwards with Terry White in 1983, Knox joined the rest of the Liberals in moving to crossbench. Following their heavy defeat at the 1983 election he was once again elected as leader to lead the rump group of 8 members.
He was replaced as leader by his deputy Angus Innes in 1988, and at the 1989 election he was by defeated the ALP's Phil Heath on a 13.4% swing.
Upon losing his seat to the Labor he became involved in community groups.
He had 2 sons, 2 daughters with his wife Doris Ross.
He was State Chairman of the St John Ambulance Association and the President of the Association of Independent Schools of Queensland.[2]
A state funeral was held for him.[4]