early life and education charles parsons knight, a renowned english painter, was born on february 15, 1829, in bristol, as the fifth son of rev. canon knight, rector of saint michael's. he was educated by his father, who was a scholar, and the friend of the artists and literary men of bristol. artistic pursuits after abandoning his career as a midshipman, charles parsons knight pursued art studies under no formal master but honed his s…