(1821-83) He was born at Saugus, Mass., and studied at Phillips Academy, in Andover, Mass. Appointed a midshipman in 1838, he served on the brig "Washington," in the squadron of Commodore Matthew Perry, and in 1847, during the Mexican War, he took part in the capture of Tabasco, Mexico. In 1861, President Abraham Lincoln gave Fox an appointment in the navy, and sent him on the steamer "Baltic," on a mission whose objective was to bring relief to Major Robert Anderson, and his small garrison, at Fort Sumter. Arriving too late, Fox found that the Confederates had already bombarded Fort Sumter, and forced its surrender. Afterwards, he was allowed to go to the beleaguered fort, and bring away Major Anderson and his garrison. President Lincoln named Fox the Assistant Secretary of the Navy on August 1, 1861, a post he held for the entire Civil War. It was Fox who to a large degree planned the capture of New Orleans, the opening of the Mississippi River and the appointment of Admiral David G. Farragut to command. Working closely with Secretary of the Navy, Gideon Welles, he was a superb administrator and planner. Fox was sent on a special mission to Russia in 1866, to convey a "Joint Resolution of Congress" which expressed "deep regret" at the recent assassination attempt on the life of Czar Alexander II. In addition, and of greater importance, Welles requested that Fox visit important naval stations and collect all of the intelligence that he could obtain. His voyage was made on the ironclad, "Miantonomoh," (named after the Indian Chief of the same name) which was the first vessel of this class to cross the Atlantic Ocean.
Signature with title: 4 3/4 x 1 3/4, in ink, with imprinted closing, I am, respectfully, yours, &c., G.V. Fox, Actg. Secretary. |