Thomas H. Cox

Thomas H. Cox is an Associate Professor of History at Sam Houston State University (SHSU), specializing in American constitutional/legal history, U.S.-Sino relations, and 19th century studies. He holds a Ph.D. in History from the State University of New York at Buffalo (2004), alongside dual B.A./B.S. degrees from Birmingham-Southern College (1994) and a Certificate in Chinese from the University of Hawaii (2016).

His research explores landmark legal cases like Gibbons v. Ogden and early American merchants in China, such as Warren Delano II, whose trade networks inform U.S.-China diplomatic foundations. Cox has served as a visiting professor at Renmin University (Beijing) and Northeast Normal University (Changchun), reflecting his engagement with East Asian academic communities.

Teaching focuses on courses like U.S. History to 1876, Revolutionary America, and Early National America. His current project investigates Delano’s role as a merchant in 19th-century China, contextualizing trans-Pacific commercial diplomacy.