 Knowles was born at Koskelle Estate, Badulla, in British Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) on 7 June 1874, the son of Edwin Knowles and his wife, Martha Jane Bassett.His father died at sea, near Aden, on a voyage from England to Ceylon, on 11 July 1879.He came to Canada with his mother and siblings in 1891 and was educated at the University of Manitoba, where he graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Laws.