Guy John Fenton Knowles (1879–1959) was an engineer, an art collector and a benefactor of several museum collections.

Guy Knowles was the son of Charles Julius Kino, a wealthy Russian-born wool merchant and hotel proprietor who was a friend and patron of Alphonse Legros and also knew Rodin, Kino changed his name to Knowles in the 1880s.

[2] Knowles's father died in 1900, whilst Guy was at Cambridge, and left him a considerable inheritance.

During the First World War, Knowles served in the Royal Garrison Artillery, reaching the rank of Captain.

[11] He was twice mentioned in despatches and was awarded the French Croix de Guerre[12] and the Greek Military Cross.