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Born in 1863, Edward Knight Jr. hailed from an immensely wealthy Philadelphia family with industrial roots. His father, Edward Knight Sr., amassed fortunes through sugar refining and investments in railroads, coal, and shipping industries. With such a privileged background, Edward Jr. naturally gravitated towards a life of influence and leisure, often occupying leadership roles in various rail companies. However, colleagues joked that Knight Jr.'s talent lay more in spending wealth than in generating it—an amusing yet telling reflection of his hedonistic pursuits.
By the dawn of the 20th century, Newport was the summer playground of America's elite. As its golden age waned, Knight was determined to stake his claim among the social aristocracy by constructing a mansion worthy of his stature.