Washington District of Columbia
Biographies

Josiah Fox
1763 - 1847
Furnished by : John Sharp

Josiah Fox was a Ship Constructor or Naval Architect noted for his involvement in the design and construction of the first significant warships of the United States Navy. Fox was born into a Quaker family (Society of Friends) in England and completed his apprenticeship at the Royal Dockyard Plymouth. He later served as a shipwright. In 1793 he traveled to the United States where in 1794, despite his religious affiliation's avowed pacifism he was employed by the United States Navy as a draftsman working under Naval Constructor Joshua Humphreys, the designer of the first Navy frigates, with Humphreys he helped designed the USS Constitution. In contrast also to many Quakers, Josiah Fox, owned slaves see Paul Hamilton 11 August 1809 letter to Thomas Tingey regarding William Fox carpenter apprentice whom Josiah Fox later freed.). Josiah Fox's tenure at Washington Navy Yard 1804 -1809 was terminated (See Paul Hamilton's letter of 2 Aug. 1809 to Josiah Fox.) due in part to a series of disputes with Commodore Thomas Tingey.

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