Richard K. Fox, the National Police Gazette and Ireland’s Sporting Memory

Abstract

ABSTRACT Born in Belfast in 1846, Richard K. Fox emigrated to the United States in 1874 and, from there, eventually began a sporting empire which shaped American sport during the late nineteenth-century. Beginning work with the National Police Gazette in 1876, Fox turned the magazine into one of the most influential, and widely read, magazines in the United States. Focusing on boxing, wrestling, strength sports and a host of other activities, the National Police Gazette was renowned for both its breadth of coverage and its unparalleled access among athletes. Few works have situated Fox’s many editorials and sponsorships within the context of his emigrant status. Building on such works, this article provides the first in-depth examination of Richard K. Fox and his importance for Irish athletes (specifically pugilists), and Irish identity, within the United States. At a time of increasing Irish emigration to the United States, especially in the latter half of the nineteenth-century, Fox proved pivotal in the promotion and management of Irish athletes while simultaneously becoming a symbol of successful Irish integration in the United States.