Knowland, William F.

Knowland, William F. (Fife)

(1908–74) publisher, U.S. senator; born in Alameda County, Calif. A conservative newspaper publisher, he was initially appointed and then elected to the U.S. Senate (Rep., Calif.; 1945–59). He served as majority leader from 1953–55, and minority leader from 1955–59. He ran unsuccessfully for governor of California in 1958. He committed suicide.

The Cambridge Dictionary of American Biography, by John S. Bowman. Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1995. Reproduced with permission.