Henry Stephen Fox

Henry Stephen Fox, born in 1791, was educated at Eton and Christ Church, Oxford. His diplomatic career began after the Whigs came to power in 1830, with appointments to Buenos Aires and then Rio de Janeiro. Alongside that work he studied natural history. In October 1833 he sent Charles Darwin rock specimens from southern Brazil, described formations he had examined, and urged him to investigate Flores Island near Montevideo. ^{1, 2}

Fox's Washington posting placed him at the center of the Caroline dispute. British forces had destroyed the steamer on American territory in December 1837, alleging that it supported the Canadian rebellion. When New York authorities later imprisoned Alexander McLeod on charges arising from the attack, Fox demanded his release. In December 1840 he defended the raid as necessary self-defense and warned Secretary of State John Forsyth of serious consequences if McLeod suffered further harm. Forsyth rejected his account and maintained the American demand for redress. ³

The exchanges continued under Daniel Webster. In April 1841 Webster told Fox that Britain must demonstrate an immediate necessity for self-defense and show that its response had remained within that necessity. McLeod was eventually acquitted after establishing an alibi. Lord Ashburton and Webster settled the remaining diplomatic complaint in their 1842 correspondence. Fox assisted Ashburton during his special mission, which also produced the boundary treaty. ^{4, 1}

Superseded in December 1843, Fox remained in Washington after leaving office and died there in October 1846. ¹