Cox, William Sands, F.R.S. and F.R.C.S., the son of a local surgeon, was born in 1801. After "walking the hospitals" in London and Paris, he settled here in 1825, being appointed surgeon to the Dispensary, and in 1828, with the co-operation of the late Doctors Johnstone and Booth, and other influential friends, succeeded in organising the Birmingham Royal School of Medicine and Surgery, which proved eminently successful until, by the munificent aid of the Rev. Dr. Warneford, it was converted into Queen's College by a charter of incorporation, which was granted in 1843. The Queen's Hospital was also founded mainly through the exertions of Mr. Sands Cox, for the education of the medical students of the College. In 1863 Mr. Cox retired from practice, and went to reside near Tamworth, afterwards removing to Leamington and Kenilworth, at which latter place he died, December 23rd, 1875. He was buried in the family vault at Aston, the coffin being carried to the grave by six old students at the College, funeral scarfs, hatbands, and "other such pieces of mummery" being dispensed with, according to the deceased's wish. He left many charitable legacies, among them being £15,000, to be dealt with in the following manner:—£3,000 to be applied in building and endowing a church then in course of erection at Balsall Heath, and to be known as St. Thomas-in-the-Moors, and the remaining £12,000 to be devoted to the erection and endowment of three dispensaries—one at Balsall Heath, one at Aston, and the other at Hockley. Two sums of £3,000 were left to found dispensaries at Tamworth and Kenilworth, and a cottage hospital at Moreton-in-the-Marsh; his medical library and a number of other articles being also left for the last-named institution.
Davies, Dr. Birt.—By birth a Hampshire man, by descent a Welshman, coming to Birmingham in 1823, Dr. Davies soon became a man of local note. As a politician in the pre-Reform days, as a physician of eminence, and as Borough Coroner for three dozen years, he occupied a prominent position, well justified by his capacity and force of character. He took an active part in the founding of the Birmingham School of Medicine, the forerunner of the Queen's College, and was elected one of the three first physicians to the Queen's Hospital, being its senior physician for sixteen years. When the Charter of Incorporation was granted, Dr. Davies was chosen by the Town Council as the first Coroner, which office he held until June 8th, 1875, when he resigned, having, as he wrote to the Council, on the 29th of May terminated his 36th year of office, and 76th year of his age. Though an ardent politician, it is from his Coronership that he will be remembered most, having held about 30,000 inquests in his long term of office, during the whole of which time, it has been said, he never took a holiday, appointed a deputy, or slept out of the borough. His official dignity sat heavily upon him, his temper of late years often led him into conflict with jurors and medical witnesses, but he was well respected by all who knew the quiet unpretending benevolence of his character, never better exhibited than at the time of the cholera panic in 1832. The doctor had established a Fever Hospital in Bath Row, and here he received and treated, by himself, the only cases of Asiatic cholera imported into the town. He died December 11th, 1878.
De Lys, Dr.—One of the physicians to the General Hospital, and the proposer of the Deaf and Dumb Institution. A native of Brittany, and one of several French refugees who settled here when driven from their own country, at the time of the Revolution, Dr. De Lys remained with us till his death, August 24th, 1831, being then in his 48th year.
Digby, John, made Lord Digby in 1618, and Earl of Bristol in 1622, was born at Coleshill in 1580. He was sent Ambassador to Spain by James I. to negotiate a marriage between Prince Charles and the Infanta. He went abroad when the Civil War broke out, and died at Paris in 1653.
Edmonds.—George Edmonds, was a son of the Baptist minister of Bond Street Chapel, and was born in 1788. For many years after he grew up George kept a school, but afterwards devoted himself to the Law, and was appointed Clerk of the Peace on the incorporation of the borough. For taking part in what Government chose to consider an illegal meeting Mr. Edmonds had to suffer 12 months' imprisonment, but it only increased his popularity and made him recognised as leader of the Radical party. During the great Reform movements he was always to the fore, and there can be little doubt that it was to his untiring energy that the Political Union owed much of its success. In his later years he printed (partly with his own hands) one of the strangest works ever issued from the press, being nothing less than an alphabet, grammar, and dictionary of a new and universal language. On this he must have spent an immense amount of philosophical and philological research during the busiest years of his active life, but like other schemes of a similar character it came into the world some scores of generations too soon. His death took place (hastened by his own hand) July 1, 1868.
Everitt, Allen Edward.—Artist, antiquarian, and archæologist. It is reported that his portfolio contained more than a thousand sketches of his own taking, of old churches, mansions, cottages, or barns in the Midland Counties. Born here in 1824 Mr. Everitt had reached his 55th year before taking to himself a wife, whom he left a widow June 11, 1882, through catching a cold while on a sketching tour. He was much loved in all artistic circles, having been (for twenty-four years) hon. sec. to the Society of Artists, a most zealous coadjutor of the Free Libraries Committee, and honorary curator of tha Art Gallery; in private or public life he spoke ill of no man, nor could any speak of him with aught but affection and respect.
Fletcher, George.—Author of the "Provincialist" and other poems, a journeyman printer, and much respected for his genial character and honest kind-heartedness. Died Feb. 20, 1874, aged 64.
Fothergill, John.—Taken into partnership by Matthew Boulton in 1762, devoting himself principally to the foreign agencies. Many of the branches of trade in which he was connected proved failures, and he died insolvent in 1782, while Boulton breasted the storm, and secured fortune by means of his steam engines. He did not, however, forget his first partner's widow and children.
Fox, Charles Fox, of the firm of Fox, Henderson and Co., was born at Derby, March 11, 1810. His first connection with this town arose from his being engaged with Stephenson on the construction of the Birmingham and Liverpool line. He was knighted in 1851, in recognition of his wonderful skill as shown in the erection of the International Exhibition of that year, and we have a local monument to his fame in the roof which spans the New Street Station. He died in 1874, and was buried at Nunhead Cemetery, London. The firm of Fox, Henderson and Co., was originally Bramah and Fox, Mr. Henderson not coming in till the death of Mr. Bramah, a well-known ironmaster of this neighbourhood, and whose name is world-famous for his celebrated locks.
Geach.—Charles Geach was a Cornishman, born in 1808, and came to Birmingham in 1826 as one of the clerks in the Branch Bank of England, then opened. In 1836 he was instrumental in the formation of two of our local banks, and became the manager of one of them, the Birmingham and Midland. In 1842 he made a fortunate speculation in the purchase of some extensive ironworks at Rotherham just previous to the days of "the railway mania." The profits on iron at that time were something wonderful; as a proof of which it has been stated that on one occasion Mr. Geach took orders for 30,000 tons at £12, the cost to him not being more than half that sum! The Patent Shaft Works may be said to have owed its origin also to this gentleman. Mr. Geach was chosen mayor for 1847, and in 1851 was returned to Parliament for Coventry. His death occurred Nov. 1, 1854. A full-length portrait hangs in the board-room of the bank, of which he retained the managing-directorship for many years.