Barclay Fox
Encyclopedia
Robert Barclay Fox was a businessman, gardener and diarist, a member of the influential Quaker Fox family of Falmouth
.
of Falmouth in Cornwall
and Maria (born Barclay of Bury Hill, Surrey), his wife. He was usually known as "Barclay Fox".
He was the brother of Anna Maria
and Caroline Fox
and brother-in law of Edmund Backhouse, M.P. for Darlington, who married the Barclay's cousin, Juliet.
). After his death, the RCPS Committee recorded
, from 18 July 1842, when his uncle, Charles Fox, retired.
in their lives.
from Falmouth
to Southampton. He was in a deputation of Cornish worthies who met the Prime Minister on 16 June 1843 (Journal page 345).
In his spare time, he developed Penjerrick Garden
, competing with his uncles Charles Fox of Trebah
and Alfred Fox
of Glendurgan. All three gardens are now open to the public.
Their four sons were brought up by Barclay's unmarried sisters, Anna Maria and Caroline, with Lovell Squire
as their tutor. They were:
Robert Fox (1845 – 1915), George Croker Fox (1847 – 1902), Henry Backhouse Fox (1849 – 1936) and Joseph Gurney Fox (1850 – 1912), (known as "Gurney").
Robert Fox married Ellen Mary Bassett. Their son, Robert Barclay Fox
(24 July 1873 - 22 April 1934), became a Conservative County Councillor and was High Sheriff
of Cornwall in 1920.
The daughter of Barclay and Jane Fox, Jane Hannah Fox, was brought up by her mother's brother, Edmund Backhouse (MP)
and his wife.
Jane Hannah Fox married Horace Pym
, who edited Caroline Fox
's Journal for publication. She was his second wife. Barclay Fox's own journal was published in 1979
Fox family of Falmouth
The Fox family of Falmouth, Cornwall, UK were very influential in the development of the town of Falmouth in the 19th century and of the Cornish Industrial Revolution...
.
Family relationships
He was the son of Robert Were Fox F.R.S.Robert Were Fox the Younger
Robert Were Fox FRS was a British geologist, natural philosopher and inventor. He is known mainly for his work on the temperature of the earth and his construction of a compass to measure magnetic dip at sea....
of Falmouth in Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
and Maria (born Barclay of Bury Hill, Surrey), his wife. He was usually known as "Barclay Fox".
He was the brother of Anna Maria
Anna Maria Fox
Anna Maria Fox was a promoter of the Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society and the artistic and cultural development of Falmouth in Cornwall, UK.-Family links:...
and Caroline Fox
Caroline Fox
Caroline Fox was an English diarist. She was the daughter of Robert Were Fox FRS of the influential Fox family of Falmouth, and was the younger sister of both Barclay Fox, also a diarist, and Anna Maria Fox....
and brother-in law of Edmund Backhouse, M.P. for Darlington, who married the Barclay's cousin, Juliet.
The Journal
Barclay's courtship of Jane Gurney Backhouse is described in his Journal, published in 1979. The 1979 edition of Barclay's journal runs from 1832 to 1854, with most of the entries before his marriage to Jane, in October 1844, and the birth of their five children: four boys and a girl. In September 2008, a new edition was published with additional journal entries from 1845 to 1854.Polytechnic Society
Barclay and his siblings played a large part in the naming and establishment of the Cornwall Polytechnic Society (from 1835, the Royal Cornwall Polytechnic SocietyRoyal Cornwall Polytechnic Society
The Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society is an educational, cultural and scientific charity, based in Falmouth, Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The Society exists to promote innovation in the arts and sciences...
). After his death, the RCPS Committee recorded
"The Society, however, since our last meeting, has been deprived of the services of Mr. R. B. Fox, who, on all occasions, not only aided the institution by his varied and powerful intelligence but practically and laboriously assisted in carrying it on".
Travels in 1843
In his diary for 1843, Barclay gives an entertaining account of his travels in France and Italy.The family businesses
Before he left, on 6 February 1843, his family made in a partner in the firm of G.C. Fox (Shipping Brokers). Barclay was also general manager of the Iron Foundry at PerranarworthalPerranarworthal
Perranarworthal is a civil parish and village in Cornwall, United Kingdom. The village is situated approximately four miles northwest of Falmouth and five miles southwest of Truro....
, from 18 July 1842, when his uncle, Charles Fox, retired.
John Sterling
Barclay's sister, Caroline Fox, also kept a journal, which was published after her death and it was republished in 1972. Barclay and Caroline have interestingly different views on the same events that they witnessed. They were agreed on the great significance of John SterlingJohn Sterling (author)
John Sterling , was a British author.He was born at Kames Castle on the Isle of Bute. He belonged to a family of Scottish origin which had settled in Ireland during the Cromwellian period...
in their lives.
Politics and pleasure
Barclay Fox was one of the leaders the ultimately unsuccessful campaign to persuade the Government not to shift the servicing of Post Office PacketsPacket ship
A "packet ship" was originally a vessel employed to carry post office mail packets to and from British embassies, colonies and outposts. In sea transport, a packet service is a regular, scheduled service, carrying freight and passengers...
from Falmouth
Falmouth, Cornwall
Falmouth is a town, civil parish and port on the River Fal on the south coast of Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It has a total resident population of 21,635.Falmouth is the terminus of the A39, which begins some 200 miles away in Bath, Somerset....
to Southampton. He was in a deputation of Cornish worthies who met the Prime Minister on 16 June 1843 (Journal page 345).
In his spare time, he developed Penjerrick Garden
Penjerrick Garden
Penjerrick Garden, often referred to as "Cornwall's true jungle garden", lies between Budock Water and Mawnan Smith, near Falmouth, United Kingdom....
, competing with his uncles Charles Fox of Trebah
Trebah
Trebah is a sub-tropical garden situated in Cornwall near Glendurgan Garden and above the Helford River .-History of Trebah:In 1831 Trebah was acquired by the Fox family who built Glendurgan Garden. Trebah was first laid out as a pleasure garden by Charles Fox, a Quaker polymath of enormous...
and Alfred Fox
Alfred Fox
Alfred Fox, of Falmouth, Cornwall, England, United Kingdom, was owner and developer of Glendurgan Garden, now a National Trust property. He was a member of the Quaker Fox family of Falmouth.-Business interests:...
of Glendurgan. All three gardens are now open to the public.
Death and after
Barclay Fox died in Egypt on 10 March 1855 from tuberculosis. His wife, Jane Fox died 10 April 1860.Their four sons were brought up by Barclay's unmarried sisters, Anna Maria and Caroline, with Lovell Squire
Lovell Squire
Lovell Squire was a Quaker schoolteacher, meteorologist and writer of sacred verse.-Birth and education:He was born 8 May 1809 at Earith in Huntingdonshire, the son of Lovell Squire and Sarah . His mother was a Recorded Minister of the Religious Society of Friends...
as their tutor. They were:
Robert Fox (1845 – 1915), George Croker Fox (1847 – 1902), Henry Backhouse Fox (1849 – 1936) and Joseph Gurney Fox (1850 – 1912), (known as "Gurney").
Robert Fox married Ellen Mary Bassett. Their son, Robert Barclay Fox
Robert Barclay Fox
Robert Barclay Fox was a Falmouth businessman and Conservative Party politician in Cornwall. He was known as Barclay Fox.-Birth and family background:R.B...
(24 July 1873 - 22 April 1934), became a Conservative County Councillor and was High Sheriff
High Sheriff
A high sheriff is, or was, a law enforcement officer in the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States.In England and Wales, the office is unpaid and partly ceremonial, appointed by the Crown through a warrant from the Privy Council. In Cornwall, the High Sheriff is appointed by the Duke of...
of Cornwall in 1920.
The daughter of Barclay and Jane Fox, Jane Hannah Fox, was brought up by her mother's brother, Edmund Backhouse (MP)
Edmund Backhouse (MP)
Edmund Backhouse , banker, J.P. on the County Durham and for the North Riding of Yorkshire benches. He was Member of Parliament for Darlington.-Family:...
and his wife.
Jane Hannah Fox married Horace Pym
Horace Pym
Horace Pym was a confidential solicitor, book collector and the editor of the best-selling private journal of the Quaker writer, Caroline Fox: Memories of Old Friends, published in 1881.-Name, birth and parentage:...
, who edited Caroline Fox
Caroline Fox
Caroline Fox was an English diarist. She was the daughter of Robert Were Fox FRS of the influential Fox family of Falmouth, and was the younger sister of both Barclay Fox, also a diarist, and Anna Maria Fox....
's Journal for publication. She was his second wife. Barclay Fox's own journal was published in 1979