Leonard George Knight was born in Bishopstoke, Hampshire, England in 1891 and his birth was registered in Winchester in the first quarter of that year. He was the son of George Knight (b. 1843) and Mary Ann Hindell (b. 1852). His father hailed from Everleigh, Wiltshire and his mother from Ore, Sussex and they had married in Southampton in 1881.

Leonard had five known siblings : Mary Louise (b. 1885), Agnes (b. 1887), Alice Mary (b. 1888), Annie (b. 1894) and Ada Bessie (b. 1896).

Leonard first appears on the 1891 census as a three-month-old whilst living with his family at "The Cottage," Stoke Common Park Farm, Bishopstoke where his father was a gardener. They are at Spring Lane, Bishopstoke by the time of the 1901 census. His father was still listed as a gardener and his mother as a dressmaker. On the 1911 census Leonard was by now listed as a domestic groom at Fryern House, Pulborough, Storrington, Sussex, the home of the wealthy King family.

When he signed-on to the Titanic, on 6 April 1912, Leonard gave his address as 37 Spring Lane Bishopstoke, (Hampshire). His last ship had been the Oceanic. As a third class steward he received monthly wages of £3 15s.

Knight died in the sinking. His body, if recovered, was never identified.