Knox, Alexander (1757–1831), theologian and private secretary, was born 17 March 1757 in Londonderry, son of a member of the city corporation, and a descendant of the Scottish reformer John Knox. Educated at home, he made the acquaintance of the founder of methodism, John Wesley (qv), a friend of his parents; for a brief time after the death of his father in 1767, he was a member of Wesley's society. His poor health was always a determinant in his career, and it was only after 1787 that he stopped sharing a bedchamber with his mother. Throwing himself into politics, he became enamoured of republican principles and met many of the leading United Irishmen in Ulster, but his enthusiasm soon turned sour and by 1795 he was an uncompromising opponent of radicalism.
A skilled writer, he was elected MRIA (1795) and between 1795 and 1797 published various essays, later collected as Essays on the political circumstances of Ireland (1799). These contained many cogent arguments about the state of Ireland and the nature of the United Irishmen, and appear to have made an impression on Viscount Castlereagh (qv), the acting chief secretary, who offered him a position as his private secretary. Although not disposed to accept because of his health, he consented reluctantly but refused to be paid for his services. As a secretary he proved less than a success at his administrative duties: he could not file papers, and although a great conversationalist was unable to communicate effectively with strangers; his ability to advise, and write papers, on complex issues, however, proved some compensation. In the wake of the rebellion Castlereagh gave him responsibility for drawing up the report of the secret committee of the house of commons on the origins and causes of the violence, which was presented to parliament on 21 August. The following year his inability to ride a horse was used as a pretext for his resignation from office. He became an ‘agent’ for the trustees of Maynooth College, a job he regarded as a sinecure.
Involving himself more and more in theological matters, he continued to advise Castlereagh, usually on religious questions, and after the union was offered – but declined – a seat in the united parliament representing his native city. In 1811 Castlereagh begged him repeatedly to write an official account of the passing of the union, promising him all available papers and records, but he was neither mentally, nor physically, capable of obliging. That Knox was Castlereagh's first, and it appears only, choice for the work reveals just how highly he valued his abilities, and his confidence that the account would dispel the allegations of bribery and corruption still being levelled against the measure.
Among Knox's friends were William Wilberforce, Charles Brodrick (qv), archbishop of Cashel, and John Jebb (qv), bishop of Limerick. Indeed, many of Jebb's ideas can be traced directly back to Knox, who is seen as an important influence on the Oxford movement. Knox wanted the unification of the church of England with the Greek catholic church and insisted that it was, properly, neither Calvinist nor Anglican.
He lived at Dawson St., Dublin, and also at the home of his friends the Latouche family, in the Wicklow mountains. He died, unmarried, 17 June 1831. In 1834 his correspondence with Jebb and The remains of Alexander Knox (1834–7) were published, both consolidating his reputation as a theologian. It was believed that he fell in love with the wife of Robert Peel (qv) when Peel was chief secretary for Ireland, and attempted suicide when he was rebuffed. Although a hypochondriac and introvert in his later years, as a theological writer he was of the first rank; Lord Macaulay described him as ‘a remarkable man’ (Fitzpatrick, 225).