FOX, SIR WILLIAM (1812-93) was the third son of George Townshend Fox, deputy-lieutenant of the county of Durham. Educated at Durham Grammar School, he proceeded to Wadham College, Oxford (1828), where he graduated B.A. (1832) and M.A. (1839). At the end of 1838 he entered at the Inner Temple and he was called (1842). He published a treatise on the law of simple contracts and in 1842 an essay on Colonisation and New Zealand.

Having decided to emigrate to New Zealand, Fox married Sarah, daughter of William Halcombe, of Poulton, Wiltshire, and a few months later they sailed in the George Fyfe (arriving at Wellington on 7 Nov 1842). Fox intended to become a regular settler, but it is not clear whether he really wished to practise law. In any case this course was impossible because he was called upon to make a declaration which he considered humiliating for an English gentleman, and accordingly refused. Instead he became editor of the New Zealand Gazette and Britannia Spectator, which he controlled vigorously in the interests of the New Zealand Company's settlers. In 1843, in company with Clifford, Vavasour and Whitehead, Fox made an extensive exploration of the Wairarapa district in search of suitable land for settlers. A few weeks later, when Arthur Wakefield (q.v.) was killed in the affray at Wairau, he was offered the post of resident agent for the Company at Nelson.

Having resigned the editorship of the Gazette, he took up his position in Sep 1843 and made a striking success of it. The settlement was despondent as the result of the reverse at Wairau, the shrinkage of employment and failure to obtain possession of farming lands. Fox took active steps to restore confidence and to widen the outlook of the colonists. Early in 1845, in company with Stephens (late chief surveyor of the Company) and a few others, he established a practicable route between Queen Charlotte Sound and the Wairau. Shortly afterwards Colonel Wakefield confirmed Fox in his position, with the reversion of the post of principal agent. The directors in London had frequent occasion to express approval of Fox's conduct, particularly his firmness and discretion in meeting native difficulties.

On 1 Feb 1846, in company with Brunner, Heaphy and a native, Fox started across country to Rotoiti, which had already been discovered by Cottrell and named Lake Arthur (after Captain Wakefield). Thence they proceeded to a wide stretch of pasture containing 15,000 acres, which Spooner and Heaphy had discovered, and from there across new country to Rotoroa (which Fox called Howick), and out on to a grassy plain of 4,000 acres intersected by a stream (which he named the Mangles). They then travelled to Matukituki and the Aglionby valley, their farthest point being 140 miles from Nelson. Fox persuaded Brunner to undertake a journey immediately down the coast from Cape Farewell to the mouth of the Buller river. In Feb 1848 Fox was appointed attorney-general for New Munster, but he remained at his post for another three months in order to distribute the rural lands and settle the claims of the land purchasers. During this time he heard that there was likely to be further delay in the inauguration of representative institutions. He accordingly resigned the attorney-generalship and planned to pay a three months' visit to the Australian colonies. At the request of Grey, however, he agreed to investigate land claims, and was so engaged until Aug. Bell, having met with an accident, was unable yet to take up his new post at Nelson. In Sep Colonel Wakefield died and Fox succeeded him as principal agent at Wellington. He prevailed on Bell to remain at Nelson and also to make an effort to purchase native lands in the Wairarapa.

Meanwhile the Church of England settlement was being planned. Late in 1848 Fox sailed with Captain Thomas to search for a suitable site in the South Island. He declined the offer of a seat in the Legislative Council, and the vacant attorney-generalship was presented to D. Wakefield (Dec 1848). On returning from the south he found that Bell had not succeeded with his Wairarapa mission and he was inclined to hold Bell responsible. Bell's acceptance of a seat in the Legislative Council (20 Dec 1848) accentuated an estrangement between the two, and on his return to Wellington (Mar 1849) Fox ordered Bell to repair to his post at Nelson, remarking that this was the third occasion on which he had taken an official position in opposition to the principal agent. Bell protested that Fox would have acted similarly, but the directors in London upheld Fox's contention that Bell's acceptance of office might prejudice the interests of the Company.

In 1849 Fox took up a considerable area of land in Rangitikei, on which he established his homestead of Westoe. He farmed half of the block and cut up the remaining 2,500 acres into small farms which he sold on deferred payment to persons with small means.

The surrender of the charters of the New Zealand Company being imminent, Fox took an active part in the Settlers' Constitutional Association, and in 1850 proceeded to England as honorary political agent of the Association to further the self-governing constitution. Earl Grey declining to receive him personally, he forwarded a memorial complaining of the misgovernment and illegal proceedings of Sir George Grey (1852). Nevertheless Fox took an important part in drafting the constitution. In a letter to Godley (7 Jun 1852) E. G. Wakefield says: 'Fox's presence as delegate from the colony has been our chief tower of strength. Our work could not have been done without him. He has done much singlehanded by dint of intelligence, assiduity, modesty, prudence and courage.' To him it was mainly due that Taranaki was a separate province from the outset, instead of being attached to Auckland. While in England Fox published The Six Colonies of New Zealand (1851) which was inspired by Newcastle in the hope that it would discredit the colonial policy of the Conservative party. Before returning to New Zealand he spent some months in Canada and the United States, thereby initiating a consistent habit of studying social conditions abroad. He was, indeed, the most widely-travelled student in New Zealand politics.

N.Z.C. papers and printed reports; N.Z. Gaz; Wellington P.C. Proc.; Cycl. N.Z., i, v (p); Fox, op. cit.; D.N.B.; J. G. Wilson; Saunders (p); MS. petition in Turnbull Library; Reeves; Gorst, N.Z. Revisited; Hocken; Rees; Gisborne; Lovat; Jourdain; Ward; Drummond; Broad; Wakelin; Grey River Argus, 9 Jan 1868; Evening Post, 23 Aug 1929 (p); N.Z. Herald, Oct-Dec 1889, 24 Jun, 7 Jul 1893. Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 1, page 155

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