Marcus Perrin Knowlton was born on February 03, 1839 in Wilbraham, Massachusetts, United States. He was the son of Merrick and Fatima (Perrin) Knowlton, and a descendant of William Knowlton who died on a voyage from London to Nova Scotia about 1633. He spent his boyhood on his father's farm at Monson.
Marcus got his schooling in the Monson Academy. From 1856 to 1860 he attended Yale College, teaching school to defray his expenses and yet graduating with a creditable record. He read law and on September 24, 1862, was admitted to the bar of Hampden County, Massachusetts.
About 1862 Knowlton opened an office in Springfield and soon had a large general practice. His reputation was gained not so much from the actual trial of causes as from the wisdom of his counsel and his "inclination for extended intellectual labor. " He was a Republican, and though "never forthputting" or politically ambitious, he was elected to several offices: president of the Springfield common council (1872 - 1873), representative in the Massachusetts House (1878), and state senator (1880 - 1881).
In 1881 Governor Long appointed him to the bench of the superior court, an office to which he proved singularly adapted. He had a broad working knowledge of the law, was prompt in his rulings, and lucid in instructing a jury. After coming to the bench he learned shorthand and was thereby aided in preparing his opinions with expedition--a characteristic for which he was noted throughout his career.
On September 14, 1887, he was promoted to the Massachusetts supreme bench, and on December 17, 1902, he succeeded Oliver Wendell Holmes as chief justice. An impairment of vision, which proved to be temporary, obliged him to leave the bench in September 1911. After his retirement, when the financial difficulties of the Boston & Maine Railroad were felt throughout New England, he became chairman of the board of trustees charged with the reorganization.
Marcus Perrin Knowlton was distinguished for his service in the judicial system in Massachusetts. He had written the opinion of the court in 1, 570 cases, a record exceeding that of any of his predecessors except Chief Justice Shaw. In twenty-nine cases, he had written dissents--only four of which were during his chief justiceship. His successor, Chief Justice Rugg, declared that "no other magistrate in the history of Massachusetts has contributed so much to the visible fabric of our jurisprudence, .. . with the single exception of Chief Justice Shaw".
Knowlton was of dignified appearance, grave but kindly, especially toward inexperienced counsel. Though somewhat removed from the crowd, he never lost his touch with plain people nor his humility of spirit. He bore an interested part in the life of his community. In his political philosophy he was orthodox but discriminating.
Knowlton was twice married: on July 18, 1867, to Sophia Ritchie, of Springfield, Massachusetts, who died in 1886, and on May 21, 1891, to Rose M. Ladd of Portland, Maine.
