Knottman
House Knottman were a major political dynasty that came to prominence in the 26th century.
Attorney General Gawain Knottman - Social Democratic Party - 2515 - 2545
President Herrick Knottman -Social Democratic Party - 2545 - 2565
Price Knottman-Grumman - Forge - 2565 - 2590
Finn Knottman - Gurava - 2590 - present
Scions
Business Ventures
Thanks to an investment by his father Gawain Knottman. Herrick Knottman founded the Wye Street Partnership in 2525, a major lobbying firm based on New Berlin. The firm was sold off to Hedge fund Fuller-Massey in 2555. Herrick's wife, Alanna Knottman founded Glasshouse Security in 2545, a security firm based on Earth, specialized in intelligence gathering. After being embroiled in an affair that led to President Knottman's resignation, he disbanded the company in 2565 and all investors were paid back. In 2560, Herrick founded the Gawain Knottman Legal Trust, a non-profit organisation based on Earth, dedicated to providing legal aid accross The Terran Republic for those who cannot afford it. The fund doubled with a generous donation from House Avander-Slade in 2565. In 2565, Price Knottman-Grumman founded the mining corporation Forge, whose mission statement was to be an example of good working practices and social entrepreneurship. In 2575, in an effort to combat partisanship in Terran politics, Price Knottman-Grumman began the Amaya Conferences, a yearly conference where all GA members, Senators and Governors are convened to listen to talks given by individuals representing the various areas of Terran society. In 2580, Dahlia Grumman-Knottman founded Ruplal College, an elite school in Dhaka City. In 2590, Finn Knottman founded investigative journalism outfit Complete Picture.Political Ideology
In keeping with their affiliation with the Social Democratic Party, House Knottman is traditionally business-friendly and socially progressive.Origins of House Knottman
Price Knottman moved to New Berlin from Vanheim in 2390, bringing his whole family with him and settling in the Van de Kamp township. Price was an engineer by trade and he set up his own repair bay, working on transports and other land-based vehicles. This earned him a respectable reputation as a local businessman. Price’s son Astor Knottman took over the family business in 2420 and he was a pillar of the community. He expanded the Knottman family business, established his own estate and even sought elected office. Astor’s high ambitions came to an end in 2435 when he was implicated by the local police for “separatist affiliations” and whilst these were never proven, Astor lost millions in legal fees and in confiscations. Astor died a bitter and broken man. The business that Gawain's father, Leland Knottman, took over was a shell of the old business, with only one shop left and six employees. Leland was more of an administrator and a book-keeper than an engineer or a businessman but his wife, Elaine Coventry, became the head of the business and managed to rebuild some of the old business. Though it was never quite what the old business had been, Leland did help remake the family fortune thanks to clever investment. He bought and sold shares efficiently and carefully and a fortuitously timed sale of TND shares saw the Knottman family earn a sizable investment, which was put into property. Gawain and his brother Ector were raised with the classic liberal values of his parents and with a solid financial backing behind them. Both of them have entered into politics and Ector, more of a show man and a talker than he was a thinker, was elected to the New Berlin colonial legislature whilst Gawain went on to be part of the cabinet of the Republic. This would mark the House becoming a political dynasty for the decades to come.
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