Samuel Fox ( -1887)
Born in Bradwell, Derbyshire, England one of nine children of William Fox, a manufacturer of weavers' shuttles, and Mary Palfreyman.
Started work as an apprentice wire drawer in Hathersage, then became a partner in a wire drawing business in the Rivelin Valley near Sheffield.
1842 Moved to Stocksbridge to establish his own wire drawing business. This business developed into the Stocksbridge Steelworks. He got married during the same year to Maria Radcliffe.
1843 Samuel and Maria Fox had one son, William Henry Fox who never married.
1848 Fox began to sell umbrella frames. Fox continued to innovate and had many patents to his name.
1851 Fox developed the "Paragon" umbrella frame, a U section of string steel that was far superior to its competitors. Development of the product continued until at least 1935. A similar product was used to make Crinoline frames from 1855. Umbrellas with 'Fox Frames' were sold worldwide.
1854 He started to cold-roll strips of wire to supply to crinoline manufacturers.
1860 He started to manufacture steel.
1871 Bought the Bradwell Grove Estate, Holwell, Oxfordshire.
1887 Fox died 25th February and was buried near to his estate at the North Cliffe church (near Market Weighton). Throughout his life he was generous and many in Bradwell, Derbyshire and Stocksbridge had cause to be grateful to him for employment and charity. The business was run for a short time after Samuel Fox's death, by his son William Henry.
His son and wife are buried at St. Mary the Virgin church, Holwell, Oxfordshire.
See Also
Sources of Information
- [1] Wikipedia
- Trademarked. A History of Well-Known Brands - from Aertex to Wright's Coal Tar by David Newton. Pub: Sutton Publishing 2008 ISBN 978-0-7509-4590-5
[[Category: Deaths 1880-1889)