William Fox (deacon)

William Fox (14 February 1736 – 1 April 1826) was an English businessman, Baptist minister and founder of the Sunday School Society.

Fox was apprenticed to a draper and mercer in Oxford in 1752; it is related that before the expiration of his indentures his master gave up to him his house and shop and stock of goods, valued at about £4,000.

Becoming aware of the degradation of the poorer classes of the population, he endeavoured unsuccessfully, by lobbying members of both houses of parliament, to move the government in their behalf.

Writing to Robert Raikes in 1785, he stated that long before the establishment of Sunday schools he had designed a system of universal education, but had met with little support from the clergy and laity, who were alarmed by the magnitude of the undertaking.

[1][2] A meeting was held at Fox's instance in the Poultry, London, on 16 August 1785, when it was resolved to issue a circular recommending the formation of a society for the establishment and support of Sunday schools throughout the kingdom of Great Britain.