FOX of Plymouth: merchant? navy? East India Co?

[DougNZ]

Hi there

Thomas FOX was born at Stoke Damerel in 1796, son of Thomas and Ann Lynn (Stride) FOX.

Our family has a salver engraved with "Rewarded for services in Java 1825-26" presented by Sir Charles Forbes, Governor of Java.

How do I go about finding out if Thomas was in the navy, a merchant or what?  His brother Francis William FOX was in the Royal Navy although I have no details of ships served on or dates, other than he died in 1834 (although where is a mystery).

Cheers

Doug