Edward Cox

Edward Cox

Edward Cox, of Cardean, Meigle, was born on 15 May 1850. He was the eldest son of James Cox, at one time Provost of Dundee, and Clementina Carmichael. He was educated at Dundee High School and Edinburgh University, and subsequently received tuition in Germany. After completing his education he spent some time in India. On his return he became associated with Camperdown Jute Works, and on his father's death in 1885 he was given a directing hand in its affairs. Following the conversion into a Limited Liability Company, in 1893, he acted as Chairman. Edward Cox had a large interest in commercial undertakings apart from Camperdown Jute Works. In 1892 he became a Director of the Scottish American Trust Companies and the Northern American Trust Co. Ltd, becoming Chairman in 1895. He was chairman of the; a Director of the Northern Insurance Co., the Scottish Widows' Fund Life Insurance Society, the Callander and Oban Railway Co.; and director and deputy chairman of the Caledonian Railway Co. Ltd. From 1890 to 1891 he was president of the Dundee Chamber of Commerce, and was also a Governor of University College. From a young age he was involved in philanthropic and religious work. He took an active part in the running of a Children's Church at Lochee, a branch of the Dundee Boys' and Girls' Religious Association, in which he held the position of an honorary vice-president until the time of his death. He was originally a member of Lochee West UF Church, and he was largely responsible for the establishment of Ryehill Church. When he moved to Cardean he attached himself to the Episcopal Church. In politics he was a Unionist, but in fiscal matters he was an ardent Free Trader. Edward Cox combined business talent with scholarly attainment. He formed close personal friendship with such men as Professor Henry Drummond and Professor Stalker, Aberdeen. He was well known for his fine taste in art and had many noteworthy works in his collection at Cardean. As administrator of the will of his late uncle, Thomas Cox, he formed a bequest to establish a free public branch library and baths in Lochee. He also purchased the AC Lamb collection of Old Dundee literature and pictures when it was on the point of being dispersed, therefore ensuring its survival intact. In 1900 he presented the entire collection to the Free Library. Edward Cox was married to Miss Stitt, a daughter of Mr JS Stitt, of Liverpool, and had two sons, J Ernest Cox and John Cox, and three daughters, Hilda, Irena and Beatrice. He was a Deputy-Lieutenant for the County of the City of Dundee and a Justice of the Peace for Dundee.