Fox, Josiah, 1763-1847

Known as a Naval Architect, Josiah Fox was a Quaker, born in Cornwall, England on October 9, 1763, to John Fox and Rebecca Stevens. He came to the United States in 1793 and was employed by the Secretary of War, General Henry Knox, to aid in the design and construction of the U.S. Navy. With his fellow designers, Joshua Humphreys and William Doughty, he designed the USS Constitution (“Old Ironsides” which is still commissioned and active duty in 2025,) the USS Constellation, and the USS United States. He, alone, designed the USS Philadelphia, USS John Adams, and the USS Chesapeake (which was involved in one of the battles that spurred the War of 1812: The Chesapeake-Leopard Affair.) He was married to Anna Miller in 1794 and together they had at least six living children. Because of his work with the War Department, Fox was disowned by the Philadelphia Society of Friends Meeting, but he was restored after the War of 1812 and after being let go from his position in 1809 because Commodore Thomas Tingey didn't like him or the fact that he employed free black workers and paid them as well as his white workers. He moved to Eastern Ohio in 1814 and died there in 1847. He is buried at the Concord Quaker Cemetery in Belmont County, Ohio.