Gustavus Fox

Gustavus Fox
Gustavus V. Fox, August 1866
Assistant Secretary of the Navy
In office August 1, 1861 – November 26, 1866
President	Abraham Lincoln
Succeeded by	William Faxon
Personal details
Born	Gustavus Vasa Fox (1821-06-13)June 13, 1821 Saugus, Massachusetts
Died	October 29, 1883(1883-10-29) (aged 62) Lowell, Massachusetts
Resting place	Rock Creek Cemetery, Washington, D.C.
Spouse(s)	Virginia Woodbury Fox
Alma mater	Phillips Academy
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Navy
Years of service	1838 – 1856
Rank	Lieutenant

Gustavus Vasa Fox (June 13, 1821 – October 29, 1883) was an officer of the United States Navy, who served during the Mexican-American War, and as Assistant Secretary of the Navy during the Civil War.

Fox was born at Saugus, Massachusetts, and studied at Phillips Academy, Andover, Massachusetts (1835). On January 12, 1838, Fox was appointed midshipman. During the Mexican-American War, he served in the brig Washington in the squadron of Commodore Matthew Perry, and took part in the capture of Tabasco, Mexico, on January 14–16, 1847. He later commanded several mail steamers. He resigned from the Navy on July 30, 1856, and engaged in the manufacture of woolen materials.

At the start of the American Civil War he volunteered for service. President Abraham Lincoln gave him a temporary appointment in the Navy and sent him in the steamer Baltic to the relief of Fort Sumter. Fox could not relieve the fort before Confederate bombardment forced its surrender, but afterwards he brought away the garrison.

On August 1, 1861, Lincoln appointed him Assistant Secretary of the Navy, an office which he held until the close of the Civil War. In 1866, he was sent on a special mission to Russia; he conveyed the congratulations of the President to Tsar Alexander II upon his escape from assassination. His voyage was made in the monitor Miantonomoh, which was the first vessel of this class to cross the Atlantic. They were accompanied by Augusta.