Samuel Middleton Fox
Encyclopedia
Samuel Middleton Fox was an amateur writer and dramatist, who also charmingly documented the life of the wealthy, Quaker Fox family of Falmouth
during the latter years of the 19th century.
and Samuel Lindoe Fox (1830–1862), son of Maria Fox (born Middleton) and Samuel Fox (1794–1874) of Tottenham and of the Wellington branch of the Fox family
He was the first of many grandsons of his maternal grandparents. His sister, Charlotte Maria was born in December 1857. His father died in November 1862 and his mother, Rachel Fox married again to Phillip Debell Tuckett, and they had three further sons, the first given the same name as his father, the second, was Percival Fox Tuckett and the third, Ivor Lloyd Tuckett.
The two homes belonged to his Falmouth grandparents, Sarah (born Lloyd) and Alfred Fox, who had a house in Falmouth called Woodhouse Place and a coastal residence and garden called Glendurgan
(now a National Trust
property). His grandfather's brothers also had houses and gardens nearby at Trebah
and Penjerrick
.
, where he graduated BA in 1881 and LL.B in 1883. He was also admitted to the Inner Temple
in 1880.
and Mary Ann Spencer, of Fawe Park, Keswick, Cumberland, on 21 Jul 1887 at the Friends Meeting House in Westminster.
They had four children :
Adelaide Fox inherited Fawe Park, after her parents and brother's death and passed it to her son, Frederick in the 20th Century.
and in 1908 as Lieutenant in the Fourth Battalion of the Border Regiment. This activity would not have pleased his local Quaker Meeting.
The Waters of Bitterness première of three-act version S M Fox (author present)
The Clodhopper première S M Fox (author present)
.
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...
during the latter years of the 19th century.
Birth and parental families
Samuel Middleton Fox was born 16 March 1856, the son of Rachel, daughter of Sarah and Alfred FoxAlfred 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:...
and Samuel Lindoe Fox (1830–1862), son of Maria Fox (born Middleton) and Samuel Fox (1794–1874) of Tottenham and of the Wellington branch of the Fox family
He was the first of many grandsons of his maternal grandparents. His sister, Charlotte Maria was born in December 1857. His father died in November 1862 and his mother, Rachel Fox married again to Phillip Debell Tuckett, and they had three further sons, the first given the same name as his father, the second, was Percival Fox Tuckett and the third, Ivor Lloyd Tuckett.
Two homes
S.M. Fox describes his happy childhood visits to his relations in Falmouth and legends about their family history in Two homes, by a grandson (privately printed, 1925).The two homes belonged to his Falmouth grandparents, Sarah (born Lloyd) and Alfred Fox, who had a house in Falmouth called Woodhouse Place and a coastal residence and garden called Glendurgan
Glendurgan Garden
Glendurgan Garden is a National Trust garden situated above the hamlet of Durgan on the Helford River in Mawnan Smith, near Falmouth, Cornwall, England, United Kingdom.Glendurgan Garden was laid out by Alfred Fox in the 1820s and 1830s...
(now a National Trust
National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty
The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, usually known as the National Trust, is a conservation organisation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
property). His grandfather's brothers also had houses and gardens nearby at 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 Penjerrick
Penjerrick Garden
Penjerrick Garden, often referred to as "Cornwall's true jungle garden", lies between Budock Water and Mawnan Smith, near Falmouth, United Kingdom....
.
Education
He was educated at Jesus College, CambridgeJesus College, Cambridge
Jesus College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.The College was founded in 1496 on the site of a Benedictine nunnery by John Alcock, then Bishop of Ely...
, where he graduated BA in 1881 and LL.B in 1883. He was also admitted to the Inner Temple
Inner Temple
The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, commonly known as Inner Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
in 1880.
Marriage and family
He married Adelaide Eliza Bell (13 September 1859 - 16 June 1922), daughter of James BellJames Spencer-Bell
James Spencer-Bell , known until 1866 as James Bell, was a British Liberal Party politician. He was a Member of Parliament for Guildford from 1852 until 1857.-Parental family:...
and Mary Ann Spencer, of Fawe Park, Keswick, Cumberland, on 21 Jul 1887 at the Friends Meeting House in Westminster.
They had four children :
- Helen Juliet Rachel Fox, born at Reading, 1 June 1890 and married Roger Ernle Money-Kyrle
- Frederick Middleton Fox, OBEOrder of the British EmpireThe Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, 1962, born at Albury, Surrey 7 May 1892 - Viola Constance Fox, born at Albury, Surrey 22 Jul 1894, died 29 Oct 1918
- Cyril Spencer Fox, born at Albury, Surrey 10 Jun 1896 died 31 May 1948
Adelaide Fox inherited Fawe Park, after her parents and brother's death and passed it to her son, Frederick in the 20th Century.
Military service
In 1899, a Samuel Middleton Fox was reported as promoted to Second Lieutenant in the First Cumberland Volunteer Battalion of the Border RegimentBorder Regiment
The Border Regiment was an infantry regiment of the line in the British Army, formed in 1881 by the amalgamation of the 34th Regiment of Foot and the 55th Regiment of Foot....
and in 1908 as Lieutenant in the Fourth Battalion of the Border Regiment. This activity would not have pleased his local Quaker Meeting.
Publications
- Our Own Pompeii: a romance of to-morrow, Edinburgh : W. Blackwood & Sons, 1887. in 2 volumes
- George. A story in drab and scarlet, London : D. Stott, 1890. 3 vol.
- Verses for Granny: Suggested by the children ... Illustrated by Dorothea A. H. Drew. London : T. Burleigh, 1899.
- A Child of the Shore: a Cornish romance . London & New York : John LaneJohn Lane (publisher)-Biography:Originally from Devon, where he was born into a farming family, Lane moved to London already in his teens. While working as a clerk at the Railway Clearing House, he acquired knowledge as an autodidact....
, 1905. 307 p. ; 8º.
- "Some lessons from Japan" in Transactions and proceedings of the Japan SocietyJapan Society of the UKThe Japan Society of the United Kingdom, founded in 1891, is the oldest and most respected organization dealing with European-Japanese relations.The society is also known as the Japan Society of London, or simply as The Japan Society.-History:...
, Vol.VII, Part 1, (1906), p. 60-79
- The waters of bitterness; a play in three acts and The clodhopper; an incredible comedy, Series: Plays of To-day and To-morrow, London, T.F. Unwin (1912) Review: " I am inclined to think that we shall hear a great deal of Mr. Fox supposing that Mr. Fox writes other plays as clever as The Waters of Bitterness, and supposing that managers think the public clever enough to appreciate them. Anyhow his is a strong and bold debut." Max BeerbohmMax BeerbohmSir Henry Maximilian "Max" Beerbohm was an English essayist, parodist and caricaturist best known today for his 1911 novel Zuleika Dobson.-Early life:...
in The Saturday Review.
- This generation : a play New York, Duffield and London, T F Unwin (1912)
- A Barca Boy: a story of Venice London, Heath Cranton: London, (1925)
- Two homes, by a grandson, Plymouth, William Brendon and son, Ltd, Printers - printed for private circulation - copies obtainable (in 1925) from the Friends Bookshop, Bishopsgate, London (1925)
- GoetheJohann Wolfgang von GoetheJohann Wolfgang von Goethe was a German writer, pictorial artist, biologist, theoretical physicist, and polymath. He is considered the supreme genius of modern German literature. His works span the fields of poetry, drama, prose, philosophy, and science. His Faust has been called the greatest long...
: a play in four acts by S. M. and C. S. Fox, London, Rich and Cowan, (1934)
Theatrical performances
Performed at Stockport GarrickThe Waters of Bitterness première of three-act version S M Fox (author present)
The Clodhopper première S M Fox (author present)
.