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William Johnson Fox (1786-1864) was a religious and political orator, born near Southwold, Suffolk.

The ambition of Fox was to become a great political orator and debater,in which at last he succeeded. His mental agility was manifest in hisreply to an elector whom he had canvassed for a vote, and who offeredhim a halter instead. "Oh thank you," said Fox, "I would not deprive youof what is evidently a family relic."

His method was to take each argument of an opponent, and dispose of itin regular order. His passion was for argument, upon great or pettysubjects. He availed himself of every opportunity to speak. "During fivewhole sessions," he said, "I spoke every night but one; and I regretthat I did not speak on that night, too." - Successful Methods of Public Speaking, 1920

He was trained for the Independent ministry, at Homerton College (then in London), under John Pye Smith, theology. He later seceded to the Unitarians, and subsequently established himself as a preacher of pronounced rationalism at South Place, Finsbury. As a supporter of the Anti-Corn-Law movement he won celebrity as an impassioned orator and journalist, and from 1847 to 1862 he intermittently represented Oldham in Parliament as a Liberal. He was editor of the Monthly Repository, and a frequent contributor to the Westminster Review, and published various works on political and religious topics.

Fox was a friend of radical journalist Benjamin Flower. On Flower's death, his two daughters, Eliza Flower and Sarah Fuller Flower Adams became Fox's wards. Fox separated from his wife in the 1830s, and, causing much scandal, apparently set up home with Eliza Flower and his children. His daughter was Eliza Fox Bridell, wife of Frederick Lee Bridell, both of whom were accomplished artists. Following the separation from his wife, Fox brought Eliza up himself living first in Stamford Hill and later Bayswater.

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