Kneeland (Abner), American writer, b. Gardner, Mass., 7 April, 1774, became a Baptist and afterwards a Universalist minister. He invented a new system of orthography, published a translation of the New Testament, 1823, The Deist (2 Vols.), '22, edited the Olive Branch and the Christian Inquirer. He wrote The Fourth Epistle of Peter, '29, and a Review of the Evidences of Christianity, being a series of lectures delivered in New York in '29. In that year he removed to Boston, and in April '31 commenced the Boston Investigator, the oldest Freethought journal. In '33 he was indicted and tried for blasphemy for saying that he "did not believe in the God which Universalists did." He was sentenced 21 Jan. '34, to two months' imprisonment and fine of five hundred dollars. The verdict was confirmed in the Courts of Appeal in '36, and he received two months' imprisonment. Kneeland was a Pantheist. He took Frances Wright as an associate editor, and soon after left the Boston Investigator in the hands of P. Mendum and Seaver, and retired to a farm at Salubria, where he died 27 August, 1844. His edition, with notes, of Voltaire's Philosophical Dictionary, was published in two volumes in 1852. Knoblauch (Karl von), German author, b. Dillenburg, 3 Nov. 1757. He was a friend of Mauvillon and published several works directed against supernaturalism and superstition. Died at Bernburg, 6 Sept. 1794. Knowlton (Charles) Dr., American physician and author, b. Templeton, Mass., 10 May, 1800. He published the Fruits of Philosophy, for which he was imprisoned in '32. He was a frequent correspondent of the Boston Investigator, and held a discussion on the Bible and Christianity with the Rev. Mr. Thacher of Harley. About '29 he published The Elements of Modern Materialism. Died in Winchester, Mass., 20 Feb. 1850. Knutzen (Matthias), b. Oldensworth, in Holstein, 1645. He early lost his parents, and was brought to an uncle at Königsberg, where he studied philosophy. He took to the adventurous life of a wandering scholar and propagated his principles in many places. In 1674 he preached Atheism publicly at Jena, in Germany, and had followers who were called "Gewissener," from their acknowledging no other authority but conscience. It is said there were seven hundred in Jena alone. What became of him and them is unknown. A letter dated from Rome gives his principles. He denied the existence of either God or Devil, deemed churches and priests useless, and held that there is no life beyond the present, for which conscience is a sufficient guide, taking the place of the Bible, which contains great contradictions. He also wrote two dialogues.