Cadet William H. Cox

Sep 8

2 min read

William was born In Jonesborough, TN on October 25, 1855 to James C. and Sophia Eliza (Byers) Cox. James was a farmer and merchant in Jonesborough, and they lived in the same household as Sophia's father, step-mother, and step-siblings. Sophia's father, Col. Charles Potter Byers, was the editor of The Vindicator, and her mother, Elizabeth Conway Sevier, was the granddaughter of John Sevier, the first governor of Tennessee.

William had one older brother named Hugh Aiken, though that brother died as an infant just a few weeks before William was born, and a younger sister named Adelaide Louisa who also died as an infant. William's mother died in 1858 when he was three. He and his father continued living with his maternal grandparents, and moved with them to Springfield, MA during the US Civil War. They returned to Tennessee in late 1865. James died less than a year later in 1866, leaving William an orphan when he was only eleven. He was taken in by Moses Cox, who was likely a family member, and sent to live on his farm.

William entered the US Naval Academy around 1874. He and was very popular with his fellow cadets, and he served as an older brother to many of the younger recruits. On April 14, 1875 he drowned in the Potomac near Annapolis, MD. He was only 19 years old.

An account of his death was written by George Sparhawk, his roommate at the Naval Academy, to William's cousin Allice G. Byers :

"...Willie belonged to the Class Boat Club, and was in the habit of going out to take a short row before breakfast. In turning round, the boat somehow upset, the others who were in the boat came very near going down too, as the water was very cold and having all their clothes on were not able to swim much..."

Midshipman Cox's gravestone can be visited in Jonesborough, TN at the Jonesborough City Cemetery. It was carved by "Mr. Gaddess" of Lynchburg, VA of Italian marble.