Charles James Fox & Henry V. Fox, Lord Holland

Writer, Statesman and Abolitionist

Charles James Fox, statesman, was a son of Henry Fox, 1st Baron Holland and his wife Lady Georgiana Caroline Lennox. His elder brother Stephen (1745-1774) became the 2nd Baron Holland, and a younger brother Henry Edward (1755-1811) was in the army.

He became a well known statesman and Foreign Secretary and was an opponent of British policy towards America during the War of Independence. He also worked towards the abolition of the slave trade.

His private life was scandalous and he left several illegitimate children. In 1795 he married his mistress, Elizabeth Armitstead.

Fox died on 13th September 1806 and was buried in the north transept of Westminster Abbey (known as Statesmen's Aisle). His gravestone simply gives his name and dates.

Monument

A large white marble monument, by the sculptor Sir Richard Westmacott, was erected near the grave in the north transept in 1822, against a wooden screen which closed off the Choir area at this time. It is considered to be the sculptor's best work. In 1847, due to the re-ordering of the choir, this was moved to its present position at the west end of the nave (displacing the monument to Godfrey Kneller which was re-sited).

It depicts the dying Fox lying on a mattress, his head and shoulders supported by a figure of Liberty (she lost her cap at the time of Queen Victoria's coronation in 1838). At his feet kneel a mourning slave in thankful prayer, and a figure representing Peace (she has lost her sceptre with dove and olive branch).

The inscription reads:

CHARLES JAMES FOX B: 24 JAN. 1749 N:S: D:13 SEPT. 1806.

(NS stands for New Style, referring to the dating).

Henry Vassal Fox, 3rd Baron Holland

Henry, Charles' nephew, was a statesman, writer and anti-slavery campaigner, and has a large monument (without inscription, by order of his son) behind that to his uncle. He died on 22nd October 1840 and is buried at Millbrook church near his estate at Ampthill in Bedfordshire. His wife was also buried there in 1845.

He was born on 21st November 1773, the only son of Stephen Fox, 2nd Baron Holland of Foxley (died 1774), and was educated at Eton and Oxford. He succeeded to the title in 1774 and was brought up by his uncles John and Charles James Fox. His notable literary circle met at Holland House in Kensington. While travelling in Italy he met Elizabeth Vassall, who was married to Sir Godfrey Webster at the time. They came back to London with their son Charles Richard Fox. After her divorce they married in 1797 and had five children. Their son Henry (who died without a male heir in 1859) was the last Baron Holland and was a diplomat.

His monument, by sculptor E.H. Baily about 1847, is often referred to as "the prison house of death" as it consists of a tall tomb surmounted with a bust, with a closed doorway with two life size mourning female figures at the front, and a youth with an inverted torch. On each side are figures in relief. A snake is entwined on the keystone.

It was initiated by the 3rd Marquess Lansdowne in 1841 and many donors subscribed to the cost, amounting to about £5,000. Lady Holland sent out the design of the monument to her son who was in Italy. He replied that he had heard of Baily who was considered the best sculptor in England. But he thought the male figure of Genius was not very original and did not like the effect of the two female figures with their backs to spectators. In the original design a boat was to be put on top but this was changed to a bust. He said "I do not either like the worn-out affectation of putting a simple name on a monument, especially as I remember his condemnation of such a practice". Which may explain the lack of any inscription.

Dimensions: height 20 feet, width 10.5 feet and profile 7.5 feet.