He served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from California and was owner, editor and publisher of the Oakland Tribune.

Knowland attended Alameda Park Street Primary School and Hopkins Academy, and graduated from the University of the Pacific in 1895.

[4] He was also active in several fraternal and civic organizations, to include the Freemasons, Shriners, Elks, Modern Woodmen of America, Native Sons of the Golden West, and California Landmarks League.

[6] As a congressman, he worked to obtain approval for construction of Navy capital ships in California and for a two-ocean fleet.

However, he was unsuccessful in the general election, a three-way race with Francis J. Heney of the Progressive Party and the winner, Democrat James D. Phelan.

In 1932, Knowland went to Washington and persuaded President Herbert Hoover and the Reconstruction Finance Corporation to advance $62 million for the completion of the San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge.

He was the political mentor of Earl Warren; from assistant Oakland City Attorney to Chief Justice of the United States.

The Oakland Tribune's radio station KLX began operation in 1921 and would be on the air until its sale in 1959.

Knowland met Elinor (Ellie) J. Fife (1873–1908) of Tacoma, Washington while they were students at University of the Pacific.

Knowland's third wife, Clarice E. "Cookie" Cook (1902–1979), was an officer of the Native Daughters of the Golden West.

A shared interest in California history made a happy marriage for Knowland's twilight years.

Joseph Russell Knowland died February 1, 1966, in his residence at 25 Seaview Avenue in Piedmont.

The public funeral of J.R. Knowland was held at the First Methodist Church and the private family service at Mountain View Cemetery Chapel in Oakland.

He was cremated at Mountain View Cemetery Crematory and is inurned with his third wife, Clarice, in Serenity Section, Tier N-4, Number 3 at the Chapel of Memories Columbarium in Oakland, California.