F02
FOX
FOX, George Lingard, actor, was born in
Boston, Mass., July 3, 182.3. His first appearance
on the stage was at the age of five in the Tremont
theatre, Boston, Mass., in " The Hunter of the
Alps," given for the benefit of Charles Kean. On
Nov. 2.5, 1850, he made liis first bow to a New
York audience at the National theatre in the role
of Ciiristopher Strap in "A Pleasant Neighbor."
From that time lie was constantly before the
public, and in 1853-.54 jjlayed Pliineas Fletclier in
Ailien"s version of "' Uncle Tom's Cabin."' He
went to the front in 1861, serving as lieutenant
in the 8th regiment. New York state militia, for
ninety days, and was at the first battle of Bull
Rmi, July 21, 1861 He became manager of the
Old Bowery theatre, New York city, in the fall
of 1861, and later was associate manager of the
New Bowei'y. In 1867-68 he was stage manager
of the Olympic theatre and made a success as
'■ Hiinipty Dumpty " in the pantomime of that
name originated by liis brother, Charles Kemble
Fox who also appeared in the cast. He con-
tinued to play this part until Nov. 28, 1876, when
he was stricken with paralysis at Booth's theatre,
He died in Cambridge, Mass., Oct. 24, 1877.
FOX, Gustavus Vasa, cabinet officer, was born in Saugus, Mass., June 13, 1821. He en- tered the U.S. navy as midshipman, Jan. 12, 1838, and attained the rank of lieutenant July 9, 1856. He served in the Slexican war and on the coast survey and resigned in 1856 to engage in manu- facturing at Law- rence, Mass. General Scott in 1861 con- sulted with liim in reference to affording relief to the garrison in the U.S. forts in Charleston harbor, and he was sent to Fort Sumter, where lie had an interview with Major Anderson, and on his return was directed to relieve the garrison according to his proposed plan. De- laj-^s in obtaining ships and supplies retarded the expedition, and the knowledge of its preparation conspired to hasten the movements of the South Carolina troops, who commenced active opera- tions. He arrived off Charleston while the fort was being bombarded and was allowed to cany the paroled garrison, including Major Anderson, ImcIc to New York. He then set out as captain of the Yankee, fitted out at the expense of New York capitalists, for the relief of Washington, at the time cut off from communication with New York, He proceeded to the national capital.
where he was appointed assistant secretary of
the navy by President Lincoln, Jidy 31, ISUl. He
is accredited with planning movements that led
to the capture of New Orleans and the opening
of the Mississii^pi river, and of selecting Commo-
dore Farragut to lead the naval expedition. In
1866 he sailed in the Monitor Miantoiiomoh as an
accredited agent of the government to carry to
the Czar of Russia, Alexander II. , congratulations
for his escape from assassination, and while at
St. Petersbm-g he detei'mined the friendshiii of
the Russian government and its willingness to
sell the territory of Alaska to the United States,
which resulted in its purchase by Secretary
Seward in 1867 for §7,200,000. He was additional
secretary of the navy from Nov. 26, 1866, to April
26, 1867, and then returned to Boston, Mass.,
whei'e he engaged in manufacturing. He died
in New York city, Oct. 29, 1883.
FOX, Joseph Gale, educator, was born at Adams, N.Y., Sept. 7, 1833; son of Buell and Prudency (Ely) Fox; and of English descent. He was graduated at the state normal school, Albany, N.Y., in 1857, was principal of the West Troy (N.Y.) academy, 1857-58; associate princi- pal of the Paulding institute, Tarrytown, N.Y., 1858-59; and was student and instructor in mathematics at the Rensselaer polytechnic insti- tute, 1859-61, taking his C.E. degree in 1861. He was adjunct professor of geode.sy and topograph- ical drawing at the institute, 1861-62, acting at the same time as assistant engineer on the Troy & Albany railroad. He was principal and proprietor of the Collegiate and Engineering institute. New York city, 1862-72; professor of mathematics. Cooper institute, 1863-64, and director and professor of mechanics there, 1864- 70. He was married Sept. 1, 1864, to Zerlina Sutherland of Waterloo, N.Y. He was engineer with rank of major on the staff of Brigadier- General Hamilton, N.Y.S.M., 1868-66, and served in the draft riots in New York in July, 1863, and on garrison duty in the forts in the harbor, 1864. He was professor of geodesy and mechanical draw- ing in the University of the city of New York, 1866-71, and professor of civil and topograph- ical engineering at Lafayette college, 1872-89. He was a fellow of the American association for the advancement of science. He received the degree of A.M. from Columbia in 1864. He died in Easton, Pa., Dec. 27, 1889.
FOX, Oscar Chapman, patent examiner, was born at Pitcher, Chenango county, N.Y., Aug. 23, 1830; son of Daniel and Harriet Amanda (Chapman) Fox; grandson of Hubbard and Luna (Perry) Fox, and of Isaac and Sally (Wooster) Chapman; and a descendant of Daniel and Han- nah (Burr) Fox of Cincinnati. His grandfather, Hubbard Fox, served in the first Connecticut
