James Wallace Knowles III (born July 20, 1979) is an American politician who served as the 11th Mayor of the city of Ferguson, Missouri, from April 2011 to June 2020.

[3][4] Knowles received bachelor's degrees in political science and criminal justice from Truman State University in Kirksville, Missouri in 2002.

[8][citation needed] Knowles served on the Ferguson city council prior to becoming mayor.

[3] Knowles publicly expressed disappointment with the low voter turnout at an April 2014 city council meeting.

[3] Knowles has defended the Ferguson Police Department in the aftermath of the shooting of Michael Brown in August 2014.