Museum Acquires Portrait of Falmouth Medical Pioneer Dr Joseph Fox

We are delighted to announce the acquisition of a portrait of Dr Joseph Fox (1729-1785), generously donated by Jonathan Fox, a direct descendant. The portrait will undergo conservation over the winter months before we hope to put it on display in the Cornwall Galleries in 2026.

A Falmouth Medical Dynasty

Joseph Fox was a pioneering surgeon who established his practice in Falmouth, becoming the founder of a remarkable medical dynasty that has continued through seven generations. Born in Par, Cornwall in 1729, Fox trained as a surgeon’s apprentice in Fowey before setting up practice, eventually moving to Falmouth where he would spend the rest of his career. In 1776, he established a small house on Poran Hill specifically to care for sick seamen and poor patients.

A Question of Conscience

Fox’s story intersects with Falmouth’s maritime and commercial history. As a member of the Society of Friends (Quakers), he found himself in an extraordinary moral dilemma during the French wars of 1778. As a quarter-share owner in two revenue cutters, Fox opposed his partners’ decision to convert the vessels into privateers to capture French merchant ships, as this conflicted with his Quaker principles of peace.

Despite his objections, the majority owners proceeded. When the venture proved successful, Fox refused to personally benefit from what he considered unlawful gain. Instead, he held the money in trust, eventually sending his son Edward to Paris in 1784-85 to trace and reimburse the original French owners.

The portrait offers an opportunity to connect visitors with an individual whose story Joseph Fox represents a connection between Falmouth’s medical, maritime, and Quaker heritage. His brother, George Croker Fox, founded the prominent shipping agency G.C. Fox & Co. in Falmouth, cementing the family’s importance to the town’s commercial development.

We are grateful to the Fox family for entrusting us with this important portrait, and we look forward to sharing it with our visitors in 2026.