FAIRFAX, SIR THOMAS, afterwards Lord Fairfax, the son of Ferdinando Lord Fairfax and his wife, Mary, daughter of Edmund Sheffield, Lord Mulgrave, was born at Denton, about twelve miles N.W. from Leeds. He was sent from school to St. John'e College, Cambridge ; but his disposition inclined him to military employment rather than to study. Accordingly, as soon as he left college, he enlisted in the army of Lord Vere, and served under his command in Holland. The connection of Fairfax with Lord Vere afterwards became more close. When he returned to England, he married Anne, the fourth daughter of that peer, who, like her father, was a zealous Presbyterian, and disaffected to the king. When the king began to raise troops, as it was said, for the defence of his person, Fairfax, who foresaw that it was intended to collect an army, in the presence of nearly 100,000 people assembled on Heyworth Moor, presented a petition to the king in person, praying that ho would listen to his parliament and refrain from raising forces. In 1642, when the civil wars broke out, he accepted a commission of general of the horse under his father, who was general of the parliamentary forces in the north. His first employment was in the county of York, where at first the greater number of actions between the parliamentary and royalist troops were in favour of the king, whose army was under the conduct of the Earl of Newcastle. Sir Thomas Fairfax, somewhat dispirited, was despatched from Lincoln, where ho was in quarters, to raise the siege of Naotwich, in Cheshire. In this expedition he was not only suc cessful in the main object, but he also took several garrisons, and on his return defeated the troops under Colonel Bellasis, the governor of York, and effected a junction with his father's forces (April, 1644). Thus Fairfax became master of the field, and, in obedience to his orders, proceeded towards Northumberland, to enable the Scots to march southwards, in spite of the king's forces, which were quartered at Durham. A junction took place between the Scots and Fairfax, who acted in concert during the spring (1644), and fought together in the memorable battle of Marston Moor (July 2, 1644), where the king's troops experienced such a signal defeat that the whole north, with the exception of a few garrisons, submitted to the parliament. Before Helmesley Castle, oue of these fortresses, which Sir Thomas Fairfax was afterwards (September) sent to besiege, he received a wound in his shoulder that caused his life to be despaired of. When the Earl of Essex ceased to be parliamentary general [Essex], it was unanimously voted that Fairfax should be his successor (January 1644.45), and Cromwell, by whom his actions were afterwards so greatly influenced, was appointed his lieutcnant-general. Fairfax hastened to London, where, upon the receipt of his commission, the speaker paid him the highest compliments. After having been nominated governor of Hull, he marched to the succour of Taunton, in which place the parliamentary troops were closely besieged ; but upon the king's leaving Oxford and taking the field with Prince Rupert, he was recalled before he had proceeded farther than Bland ford, and received orders to join Cromwell and watchfully attend upon the movements of the king. On the 14th of June he commandeti the parliamentary forces at the decisive battle of Naseby; and when the king had fled into Wales, Fairfax, marching through Glou cester, possessed himself of Bath, Bristol, and other important posts in Somersetabire. From thence, by the way of Dorsetahire, he
carried his arms into Cornwall, and entirely dispersed the forces of the king.
After the surrender of Exeter, which was the last event of this western campaign, Fairfax returned to Oxford, which as well as Wallingford, surrendered upon articles. In the autumn, after further active and successful employment, he was seized with a fit of illness under which he laboured for some weeks. In November, when he returned to London, he was welcomed by crowds who came out to meet him on his road, was publicly thanked for his services, and received from the parliament a jewel of great value set with diamonds, together with a considerable grant of money. The payment of the 200,000/. to the Scottish army, in consideration of which they delivered up the king, was entrusted to Fairfax, who marched northward for this purpose. The discontent of the army, who were fearful either that they should be disbanded or sent to Ireland, now rose to a great height. Their complaints were encouraged by Cromwell and Ireton; a council was formed iu the army by selecting two soldiers from each troop, and the Independents showed an evident desire to form a party distinct from the Presbyterians and the parliament, and to usurp for themselves a greater authority. Fairfax saw these violent proceedings with regret, but he had not the resolution to resign his command. He succumbed before the greater genius of Cromwell, following his counsels, until the army had become master both of the parliament and the kingdom.
In 1647 he was made Constable of the Tower ; and in the follow ing year, at his father's death, he inherited his titles, appointments, and estates. The difference of his condition made no alteration in his life ; he continued to attack or besiege the royal troops wherever they were mustered or entrenched. Many towns in the east, and among them Colchester, which he treated with great severity, yielded to his arms. In December he marched to London, menaced the parliament and quartered himself in the palace at Whitehall. He was named one of the king's judges, but refused to act ; and he was voted one of the new council of state (February 1648-49), but refused to subscribe the test. In May he marched against the Levellers, who were numerous in Oxfordshire. He continued in command of the army until June 1650, when, upon the Scots declaring for the king, he declined marching against them, and consequently resigned his commission. He now retired to his house at Nun Appleton, iu Yorkshire, which for some years he made his principal residence. He left it (in 1659) to assist General Monk against Lambert's forces. In January 1659-60, he made himself master of York. In the same month and in the February following he was chosen one of the council of state by the Rump Parliament, was elected one of the members for the county of York, and formed one of the committee appointed to promote the return and restoration of Charles II. In November 1671, while residing privately at his country-house, be was seized with an illness, which terminated in his death. He was buried at Bilburgh, near York. He left issue two daughters, Mary, who married the Duke of Buckingham, and Elizabeth, of whom we have no account.