Career
In 1857 he was chosen as a candidate to contest the two-seat constituency of Finsbury as a Whig and supporter of the policy of Lord Palmerston. The election was held on 29 March, and Cox was elected, coming second of the four candidates, with a majority of 156 votes over the third-placed candidate. When a further general election was called in 1859, Cox found himself opposed by two other Liberal candidates.
He lost his seat, with The Standard noting satirically that:
On 9 December Cox announced that he would seek election in the resulting by-election.
The by-election was held on 16 December, and Cox defeated his only opponent, J R Mills by 42 votes. Cox held the seat until the next general election in July 1865.
He was one of four Liberal candidates who, along with a lone Conservative, contested the seat. He failed to be re-elected, finishing in third place with 5,008 votes, more than 2,800 behind the second-placed candidate.
In 1870 he built a house "Spurriers", at Netteswell, Essex.
He died there in December 1889, aged 72.
