Charles James Fox (editor)

Charles James Fox BA (c. 1827 – 14 March 1903) was an Australian newspaper editor and owner.

History

Little is known about his early life, but he was raised as a Roman Catholic and graduated with a BA from St John's College, Oxford.^[1]

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

Fox was the 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 served as honorary secretary of the committee to erect a memorial to Fr. J. N. Hinteröcker SJ (c. 1820–1872),^[5] and succeeded Benjamin Hoare as editor of The Irish Harp and Farmers' Herald in January 1870.^[6] In the newspaper, he notably criticized Bishop Sheil's excommunication of Mary MacKillop.^[7] As a result, he was ousted from the South Australian Catholic Association, where he had served as both a founding member^[8] and president.^[9]

He retired as editor around August 1875^[10] to focus 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]

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

In May 1899, he was appointed editor of the Cairns Argus.^[15] He remained in that position until February 1903, when he sprained his ankle in a fall and was hospitalized in Townsville. He died there a week later.

Family

Sir Frank Fox (born 10 August 1874), an author and editor of The Lone Hand magazine (among other works), was his son.