A Scottish seismologist and mathematician whose equations (Knott’s equations) formed the basis of modern reflection seismology. Knott was born in Penicuik and studied at the University of Edinburgh, where he obtained his PhD in 1879. He taught at Edinburgh University until 1883 when he moved to Tokyo Imperial University, where he collaborated with others in establishing a network of seismometers throughout the Japanese Empire. He also undertook the first geomagnetic survey of Japan. Knott returned to Edinburgh University in 1891 as reader in applied mathematics. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, and was president of the Scottish Meteorological Society and founder of the Edinburgh Mathematical Society. On leaving Japan the Emperor Meiji awarded Knott the Order of the Rising Sun. Knott died in Edinburgh.