George Fox

George Fox (July 1624 – January 13 1691) was an English Dissenter and the founder of the Religious Society of Friends, commonly known as the Quakers. Living in a time of great social upheaval, he rebelled against the religious and political consensus by proposing an unusual and uncompromising approach to the Christian faith. His journal is a text popular even among non-Quakers for its vivid account of his personal journey.

References

Various editions of Fox's journal have been published from time to time since the first printing in 1694. The John Nickalls revisions of 1952 and following are generally considered to contain the most accurate text (Philadelphia Yearly Meeting; ISBN 0-94130-805-7). The linked reference above is to a 1908 version by Rufus Jones, which is also available in print (Friends United Press, 1976; ISBN 0-91340-824-7).

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Other useful sources include:

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• An Apology for the True Christian Divinity, Robert Barclay (1678). A systematic treatment of Quaker theology at the end of the seventeenth century; available online.
• First Among Friends: George Fox and the Creation of Quakerism, H. Larry Ingle (Oxford University Press; ISBN 0-19510-117-0 ). Controversial interpretation of Fox's use of politics within the Society of Friends to ensure conformity with his views and the survival of the group.
• A Popular Life of George Fox, Josiah Marsh (London: Charles Gilpin, 1847). Somewhat biased but thorough biography of Fox.
• Quaker Faith and Practice, Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) in Britain. (ISBN 0-85245-307-8 ). Shows a modern Quaker view of Fox, and a great deal of historical information about Friends and their institutions.