COX, ROBERT N., merchant, manufacturer, lobster canner, and fox breeder; b. 12 October 1850 in Charlottetown, son of John Benjamin Cox and Jane Martha; m. 10 December 1885 Elizabeth Sutherland, and they had six children, Russell, Edith, Lloyd, George, Alice, and Fred; Anglican; d. 19 April 1934 in Charlottetown.
Cox, a Liberal, was first elected to the Legislative Assembly in the general election of 1908 for 2nd Kings. He was re-elected in the general election of 1919. He was defeated in the general elections of 1912 and 1923. On 9 September 1920, Cox was sworn in as a Minister without Portfolio in the government of John H. Bell*.
Cox received his education in Morell and Charlottetown. In his youth he was a clerk with Peake Brothers. Cox resided in Morell for a significant portion of his life and owned a large general store for more than 40 years. His nephew, Harry Howard Cox*, worked in his uncle’s store. Cox’s business included lobster packing, and he ran two canneries, one at St. Peters Harbour and the other in the Magdalen Islands. He had interests in potato starch manufacturing. In association with Harvey D. McEwen* Cox was involved in two factories, one in St. Peters and one in Lot 40. Cox. like many Island business people following the First World War, was involved in the fox industry. He also spent some time farming. Robert Cox died 19 April 1934 of a stroke at his home on Longworth Avenue in Charlottetown.
Cox’s parents were born in Newfoundland. Elizabeth Cox was born in 1858 and died in 1931 of heart failure., CPG 1921; Maple Leaf Magazine June 1934; Patriot 19 April 1934; PARO: Marriage Register No. 13 1873-1887 p. 104; MNl-Census 1891, St. Paul's Church and Charlottetown People’s Cemetery Records.