David Richard Knechtges (/kəˈnɛktəs/; born October 23, 1942) is an American sinologist and professor emeritus of Chinese literature at the University of Washington.

David Knechtges was born on October 23, 1942, in Great Falls, Montana, and grew up in Kirkland, Washington.

Knechtges attended Lake Washington High School, and originally intended to study biology or chemistry.

[1] He was fascinated and impressed by Wilhelm's knowledge and presentation, and soon decided to change his academic focus to Chinese history, language, and literature.

After receiving his Ph.D., Knechtges taught at Harvard and then Yale University for several years before joining Washington's Asian Languages and Literature faculty in 1972.