Samuel Fox was the son of Samuel Fox, Sr. and Judith Ellen "Mordecai" Mordecai. He married Bettie Grimes, daughter of Gen. Brian Grimes, Jr. [Civil War General in the 4th NC Infantry] and Elizabeth Hilliard "Betsy" Davis. They were the parents of nine children.
In his early childhood, Samuel Fox lived in Raleigh with his widowed mother in the Bishop Lyman place. During the Civil War, the family silver was buried under a stump in the yard which the Yankees camped around without ever uncovering the secret. They lived through the war and reconstruction relatively well.
Samuel attended private schools in Raleigh and eventually went off to the University of Virginia Law School, graduating in 1875. He began immediately practicing in partnership with William H. Battle in Raleigh.
The North Carolina Supreme Court admitted Samuel Fox to the bar in 1875, beginning a 50 year career of legal work and scholarship.
From 1900 to 1904, he also lectured three times a week at Wake Forest College. Samuel Fox's success in these positions coupled with his early publications led to his reputation throughout the state as an excellent lawyer and accomplished scholar.
Following the creation of a law school at Trinity College, Samuel Fox was named senior professor and chosen to serve as the school's first dean when it opened in 1904. He served in this capacity until his death in 1927.
During these years he was known throughout the campus and the legal community as an able administrator, dedicated teacher, and prolific scholar. He published pamphlets and lectures that were requested from lawyers and legal scholars across the state.
His youngest daughter, Margaret, stated in her book entitled, "Recollections of Papa", that, "He was brilliant, tempermental, eccentric, and witty. He loved laughter. Those who knew him smile in remembrance."