NAVAL GENERAL SERVICE MEDAL WITH EGYPT CLASP TO GEO. FOX, LIEUT., R.N.

George Fox was born in Scarborough, Yorkshire in Sep 1773, joining the Royal Navy as Able Seaman in July 1795. Posted to H.M.S. Malabar, Fox served at Demerara, Essequibo, Berbice and Ste. Lucie and was present in the Malabar when she foundered on 10 Oct 1796 on her return home from the West Indies. Subsequently he served in Pelter and was appointed Midshipman in H.M.S. Pallas and was present when she was wrecked in Plymouth Sound on 4 Apr 1798.

Fox’s service followed in Foudrayant, Barfleur and Queen Charlotte, flag-ships of Lord Keith under whom he saw action against the French fleet in the Mediterranean and in the blockade of Malta. After assisting Lord Cochrane by navigating the captured French ship of the line, Le Généreux, into Minorca in February 1800 he then followed Cochrane into the Speedy where at one point he was given charge of a prize ship and convoy and succeeded beating off several attacking ships. He then joined Lord Keith in H.M.S. Minotaur and in June 1800 'Fox witnessed the fall of Genoa; from the mole of which place he had the singular good fortune, after the battle of Marengo, of effecting the deliverance of a British 64 [gun] and two transports, all of which but for his own individual exertions would inevitably have been destroyed. The courage and ability displayed by Mr. Fox on this occasion were so marked as to render his enrolment among the officers of their ship an object of ambition to many of the Captains of Lord Keith's fleet, but so high was the opinion entertained of his merits by the Admiral that he was unwilling to part with him, and in consequence retained his services until enabled, on his having passed his examination, to promote him to Lieutenant. Previously to that event, which took place on 23 August 1801, Mr. Fox, who had followed Lord Keith into the Foudroyant, further attended the expedition to Egypt, and had the honour, when Sir Ralph Abercromby was brought on board with his death-wound, to conduct that heroic chief to the cabin which had been assigned to his use.'

Returning to Minotaur on his promotion he returned home in her and was paid off. Home station commands followed with periods at Sheerness, Watchful and Brevdrageren. Retiring as Commander on 20 Jan 1847, Fox died in 1853.