Charles James Fox

Bicentenary of Charles James Fox, 13th September 2006

'The greatest debater the world ever saw', Fox's passionate advocacy of radical causes continues to resonate today. A leading member of the Whig party, he spent the greater part of his Parliamentary career (1768-1806) in opposition, serving as MP for Westminster from 1780 onwards. Abroad Fox espoused American Independence, liberty and equality in France; at home he embraced Catholic Emancipation and the abolition of both the Atlantic slave trade and slavery in general, the subject of his final speech in the House of Commons.  

Fox's political views, personal extravagance and disregard for convention made him one of the most caricatured subjects of any age - as a young man he ran up huge gambling debts and had a series of well-publicised love affairs. But he was venerated among his own party. At his death his supporters raised money to commission Richard Westmacott (1775-1856) to produce an elaborate monument in Westminster Abbey and a bronze statue (dedicated 19 June, 1816) on a site in Bloomsbury Square chosen by the sixth Duke of Bedford. Fox is shown as a Roman senator, grasping a scroll of the Magna Carta as a symbol of his championship of liberty.   

The Bicentenary

To commemorate the bicentenary of Charles James Fox and the restoration of his statue the Rt. Hon Michael Foot presided over the unveiling of the refurbished statue.  

Lord Lea of Crondall performed the introduction, with the Mayor of Camden, Cllr Jill Fraser and the Executive Member for Culture, Cllr Flick Rea providing the formal welcome. This was followed by a keynote speech by Dr Leslie Mitchell (biographer of Charles James Fox) and a reading from Lord Macaulay by Hugh Thomas (Lord Thomas of Swynnerton).