Fox, Richard

Fox, Richard bishop of Winchester, and the founder of Corpus Christi College, Oxford, was born at Grantham, Lincolnshire, of humble parentage, and educated at Boston school and Magdalen College, Oxford. Through the friendship of Morton, bishop of Ely, he was brought to the notice of the earl of Richmond, who, when he became king (Henry VII), made Fox a privy councillor, bishop of Exeter, employed him on several embassies, then transferred him to these of Durham, and finally to that of Winchester. Fox evinced his appreciation of learning by founding Corpus Christi College, Oxford; with two lectures for Greek and Latin, and by establishing several free schools. He died in 1528, and was buried in Winchester Cathedral. He wrote The Contemplacyon of Synners (Lond. 1499, 4to): — Letter to Cardinal Wolsey. — Allibone, Dictionary of Authors, s.v.; Rose, New Gen. Biog. Dict. 7:428; Wood, Athenae Oxonienses, Chalmers, Biog. Dict (J.W.M.)