The father of Robert Barclay Fox (July 24^th) Fox wrote many scientific papers on the internal temperature of the earth which he studied after noticing that the rate of heating of a mine increased with depth.

Fox also investigated the effect of electricity on metal ores and invented a magnetic compass for polar navigation. 

One of his models was used by Sir James Clark Ross on his Antarctic expedition and was used to determine the exact position of the Earth’s south magnetic pole.

Like his brothers, Charles Fox (December 22^nd) who laid out the gardens at Trebah and Alfred Fox (September 9^th) who developed the Glendurgan estate’s garden, Fox was an enthusiastic horticulturalist and is credited with naturalising 300 species of plant in Cornwall and all three gardens are renowned for their collections of hydrangeas and  camellias.