Charles James Fox (editor)

Charles James Fox BA (c. 1827 – 14 March 1903) was a newspaper editor and owner in Australia.

History

Little is known of his earlier life, but he was brought up as a Roman Catholic and graduated BA from St John's College, Oxford.[1]

He emigrated to Adelaide, South Australia,[when?] and married Mary Ann Toole on 31 October 1866.[2]

He was Latin master at John Lorenzo Young's Adelaide Educational Institution from 1868[3] to 1871[4] or later.

Fox was involved in various Catholic lay organizations: he was hon. sec. of the committee to erect a memorial to Fr. J. N. Hinterocker SJ (c. 1820–1872)[5] He succeeded Benjamin Hoare as editor of The Irish Harp and Farmers' Herald in January 1870.[6] in which paper he notably criticised Bishop Sheil's excommunication of Mary MacKillop.[7] and was ousted from the South Australian Catholic Association, of which he was president.[8] and founding member.[9] He retired as editor around August 1875.[10] to concentrate on an agency he was running at 71 King William Street, Adelaide.[11]

In 1883 he moved to Hobart, Tasmania, where he edited the Tasmanian Mail. He left for New South Wales in June 1888[12]

He purchased the Northern Argus of Narrabri, New South Wales, which he ran as proprietor and editor. On 29 August 1890 fire destroyed the building, owned by a Mr. Spencer, and its contents, all of which were owned by Fox: a steam engine and two presses, good quality type and consumables.[13] Despite rumors, an inquest found no evidence of arson. Fox had a court case pending in which he was being sued for publishing a libel.[14]

He was appointed editor of the Cairns Argus in May 1899,[15] and was still editor in February 1903, when he sprained his ankle as the result of a fall and was hospitalised in Townsville. He died there a week later.

Family

Sir Frank Fox (born 10 August 1874), author and editor of The Lone Hand (and much else) was a son.

References

  1. ^ "General News". The Express and Telegraph. South Australia. 15 January 1870. p. 2. Retrieved 28 April 2020 – via Trove.
  2. ^ "Family Notices". The Border Watch. South Australia. 3 November 1866. p. 2. Retrieved 28 April 2020 – via Trove.
  3. ^ "Adelaide Educational Institution". The Express and Telegraph. South Australia. 3 October 1868. p. 2. Retrieved 28 April 2020 – via Trove.
  4. ^ "Examinations". The Adelaide Observer. South Australia. 23 December 1871. p. 11. Retrieved 28 April 2020 – via Trove.
  5. ^ "Topics of the Day". The South Australian Advertiser. South Australia. 19 October 1872. p. 2. Retrieved 28 April 2020 – via Trove. Hinterocker and Julian Tenison Woods were both noted as scientist-priests.
  6. ^ "The Week's News". Adelaide Observer. South Australia. 22 January 1870. p. 7. Retrieved 27 April 2020 – via Trove.
  7. ^ "The Bishop and the Sisters of Saint Joseph". The Irish Harp and Farmers' Herald. South Australia. 7 October 1871. p. 6. Retrieved 25 April 2020 – via Trove. Fox was one of many who consistently misspelled the bishop's name as "Shiel".
  8. ^ "General News". The Express and Telegraph. South Australia. 19 October 1871. p. 2. Retrieved 25 April 2020 – via Trove.
  9. ^ "SA Catholic Association". The Irish Harp and Farmers' Herald. South Australia. 5 November 1870. p. 5. Retrieved 27 April 2020 – via Trove.
  10. ^ "Topics". The Harp and Southern Cross. South Australia. 5 November 1875. p. 5. Retrieved 27 April 2020 – via Trove.
  11. ^ "Mr C. J. Fox". The Harp and Southern Cross. South Australia. 5 November 1875. p. 5. Retrieved 28 April 2020 – via Trove.
  12. ^ "Shipping". Tasmanian News. Tasmania, Australia. 20 June 1888. p. 3. Retrieved 28 April 2020 – via Trove.
  13. ^ "Burning of e Newspaper Office at Narrabri". The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser. New South Wales, Australia. 2 September 1890. p. 7. Retrieved 28 April 2020 – via Trove.
  14. ^ "Narrabri Newspaper Case". Australian Town and Country Journal. New South Wales, Australia. 20 December 1890. p. 14. Retrieved 28 April 2020 – via Trove.
  15. ^ "Telegraphic News". The Northern Miner. Charters Towers, Queensland, Australia. 24 May 1899. p. 3. Retrieved 28 April 2020 – via Trove.