SECRETARY FRANK KNOX

Real Name: William Franklin Knox

Identity/Class: Human (Old West to World War II era)

Occupation: United States Secretary of the Navy;
    former newspaper editor, soldier

Group Membership: US Navy;
    formerly the Rough Riders

Affiliations: Captain America (Steve Rogers), the Duchess of Windsor (Wallis Simpson), the Duke of Windsor (Edward VIII), Human Torch ("Jim Hammond"), Secretary Harold L. Ickes, Attorney Gen. Robert Jackson, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Vice President Henry Wallace

Enemies: Baron Zemo (Heinrich Zemo), Nazis

Known Relatives: Annie Reid (wife)

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA;
    formerly Boston, Massachusetts, USA

First Appearance: (in a Marvel comic, unidentified): Captain America & the Invaders: The Bahamas Triangle#1 (September, 2019)

Powers/Abilities: Frank Knox was an effective politician and advocate for war preparedness.

Height: Unrevealed
Weight: Unrevealed
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Brown (balding)

History: (real life history) - Born in Boston, Massachusetts on March 15, 1874, William Franklin Knox attended Alma College and later served with the Rough Riders during the Spanish-American War. Following the War, Knox became a newspaper editor and a supporter of the United States Republican Party. Serving in World War I as an artillery officer, Knox was later nominated by the Republican Party as the vice presidential candidate under Alf Landon, only to have Landon lose the election to Franklin Delano Roosevelt. When Knox supported aiding the Allied Powers at the outbreak of World War II, he was appointed the position of Secretary of the Navy by Franklin Roosevelt.

(Captain America & the Invaders: The Bahamas Triangle#1) - On Wednesday, March 19, 1941, Frank Knox accompanied President Franklin Roosevelt on a fishing trip, which Roosevelt secretly planned to use as a ruse while he met with the Duke and Duchess of Windsor in the Bahamas. As Roosevelt commented on the beautiful day aboard the Presidential Yacht, the Potomac, Knox stood by and smiled as Attorney General Robert Jackson expressed wishes that they were flying instead of sailing. When a storm forced the Potomac to dock in the Bahamas ahead of schedule, Knox accompanied Roosevelt, Secretary Harold L. Ickes, Robert Jackson and a squad of guarding sailors to the residence of the Duke and Duchess for their meeting. Finding the Duke and Duchess' home invaded by Baron Heinrich Zemo, Knox appeared surprised to see Zemo as Roosevelt attempted to calmly talk Zemo down from his attack. Knox then remained at Roosevelt's side as the lights went out and Captain America revealed himself to fight Zemo. Once Zemo and his men had been defeated, Knox appeared shaken as Roosevelt prepared to leave the Bahamas, his meeting with the Duke and Duchess having been cut short. After Roosevelt said his goodbyes to the Duke and Duchess, Knox accompanied Roosevelt back to the Potomac as the undercover Steve Rogers and Jim Hammond regrouped with the Presidential party.

(real life history) - As the War progressed, Knox traveled to various Navy installations worldwide as an advocate of military preparedness. Eventually, following a series of heart attacks, Frank Knox passed away while still in the office of Secretary of the Navy on April 28, 1944.

Comments: Adapted into Marvel Comics by Roy Thomas and Jerry Ordway.

Frank Knox was the real life (or Earth-1218, if you prefer) Secretary of the Navy during World War II.

Knox was not identified by name in Captain America & the Invaders: The Bahamas Triangle#1 but seen as part of the President's cabinet as he went on a "fishing trip" to meet the Duke and Duchess of Windsor in the Bahamas.

Profile by Proto-Man.

CLARIFICATIONS:
Frank Knox has no known connections to:

images: (without ads)
Captain America & the Invaders: The Bahamas Triangle#1, p15, pan1 (Frank Knox in suit, main image)
Captain America & the Invaders: The Bahamas Triangle#1, p28, pan5 (Frank Knox walking)
Captain America & the Invaders: The Bahamas Triangle#1, p8, pan2 (Frank Knox in civilian clothes)

Appearances:
Captain America & the Invaders: The Bahamas Triangle#1 (September, 2019) - Roy Thomas (writer), Jerry Ordway (art), Tom Brevoort (editor)

First Posted: 10/23/2019
Last updated: 10/23/2019

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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