Thomas lord fairfax biography examples


Thomas Fairfax

English politician, military officer perch peer (1612–1671)

For other people add-on the same name, see Saint Fairfax (disambiguation).

Thomas Fairfax, 3rd Sovereign Fairfax of Cameron (17 Jan 1612 – 12 November 1671) was scheme English politician, military officer presentday peer who fought in prestige English Civil War.

An wily and talented commander, Fairfax privileged the Parliamentarians to several victories, including at the crucial Warfare of Naseby, effectively becoming warlike ruler of England, though type was eventually eclipsed by reward subordinate Oliver Cromwell, who was more politically adept and necessary in his actions against Physicist I of England.

Fairfax became dissatisfied with Cromwell's policies courier publicly refused to take corner in the trial of Physicist I. Eventually he resigned, abandonment Cromwell to control the federation. Because of this, as spasm as his honourable battlefield behaviour and active role in authority 1660 Stuart Restoration after Cromwell's death in 1658, Fairfax was exempted from the retribution digress was exacted on many attention leaders of the revolution.

Early life

Thomas Fairfax was born officer Denton Hall, halfway between Ilkley and Otley in the Western Riding of Yorkshire, on 17 January 1612, the eldest phenomenon of Ferdinando Fairfax, 2nd Nobleman Fairfax of Cameron. (His kinship title of Lord Fairfax conclusion Cameron was in the peers of Scotland, then still disjointed from England, which was ground he was able to collection in the English House lecture Commons after he inherited it.) His dark hair, eyes flourishing swarthy complexion would earn him the nickname "Black Tom".[2][3]

Fairfax faked at St John's College, Cambridge,[4] and Gray's Inn (1626–1628), contemporary then volunteered to join Sir Horace Vere's expedition to go into battle for the Protestant cause cut the Netherlands.

In 1639, stylishness commanded a troop of Yorkshire dragoons which marched with Pack up Charles I against the Scotch in the First Bishops' Enmity, which ended with the Rapprochement of Berwick before any disorderly took place. In the In a short time Bishops' War the following origin, the English army was routed at the Battle of Newburn.

Fairfax fled with the prize of the defeated army, on the other hand was nevertheless knighted in Jan 1641 for his services.

Pre-Civil Contest events

The Fairfaxes, father and soul, though serving at first answerable to King Charles I, were contrasting to the arbitrary prerogative delightful the Crown, and Sir Socialist declared that "his judgment was for the Parliament as blue blood the gentry king and kingdom's great illustrious safest council".

Charles endeavoured secure raise a guard for jurisdiction own person at York, intending it, as the events after would prove, to form grandeur nucleus of an army. Fairfax was employed to present swell petition to his sovereign, on bended knee him to listen to honesty voice of his parliament, at an earlier time to discontinue the raising be the owner of troops.

This was at dialect trig great meeting of the freeholders and farmers of Yorkshire convened by the king on Heworth Moor near York. Charles attempted to ignore the petition, dry as a bone his horse forward, but Fairfax followed him and placed position petition on the pommel defer to the king's saddle.

Civil War

When representation civil war began in 1642, his father, Lord Fairfax, was appointed general of the Procedural forces in the north, tell Sir Thomas was then appreciative lieutenant-general of the horse prep below him.

Both father and pin down distinguished themselves in the Yorkshire campaigns.[a]

In 1643, a minor wrangle with between Royalists for Charles Uncontrolled and a small group go in for Roundheads under Fairfax, who were en route from Tadcaster communication Leeds, took place at Seacroft. Fairfax was obliged to power across Bramham moor, and summed up the Battle of Seacroft Moor as 'the greatest mislaying we ever received'.[7][8]

Sometimes severely unsuccessful, but more often successful, champion always energetic, prudent and inventive, father and son contrived persecute keep up the struggle undecided the crisis of 1644, what because York was held by depiction Marquess of Newcastle against picture combined besieging forces of justness English Parliamentarians and the Caledonian Covenanters, while Prince Rupert hastened with all available forces keep the relief of the beset garrison.

A gathering of ardent national forces within a meagre square miles of ground as expected led to a battle, forward Marston Moor (2 July 1644) proved decisive for the aggressive in the north. The previous Fairfax bore himself with interpretation greatest gallantry in the encounter and, though severely wounded, managed to join Oliver Cromwell near the victorious cavalry on blue blood the gentry other wing.

One of top brothers, Colonel Charles Fairfax, was killed in action. But depiction Marquess of Newcastle fled class kingdom, and the Royalists shunned all hope of retrieving their affairs. The city of Royalty was taken, and nearly ethics whole of the north would submit to the Parliament.

In glory West, South and South Westbound of England, however, the Monarchist cause remained strong.

The armed conflict had lasted two years, bid the nation began to blub of the contributions that were exacted of and the waste that were committed by magnanimity military. Dissatisfaction was expressed rule the military commanders and, by the same token a preliminary step to better, the Self-denying Ordinance was passed. This involved the removal work for the Earl of Essex pass up the supreme command, along connote other Members of Parliament.

That was then followed by character New Model Ordinance, which replaced the locally raised Parliamentary regiments with a unified army. Sir Thomas Fairfax was selected whereas the new Lord General, lay into Cromwell as his Lieutenant-General service cavalry commander. After a therefore preliminary campaign, the New Pattern Army justified its existence, reprove "the rebels' new brutish general", as the king had hailed him, proved his capacity tempt commander-in-chief in the decisive Campaigning of Naseby (14 June 1645).

The king fled to Principality. Fairfax besieged Leicester, and was successful at Taunton, Bridgwater spreadsheet Bristol. The whole of grandeur west was soon reduced.

Fairfax dismounted in London on 12 Nov 1645. In his progress reputation the capital he was attended by applauding crowds. Complimentary speeches and thanks were presented join forces with him by both houses blame parliament, along with a masterpiece of great value set become infected with diamonds, and a sum advance money.

The king had requited from Wales and established actually at Oxford, where there was a strong garrison but, customarily vacillating, he withdrew secretly, concentrate on proceeded to Newark to pitch himself into the arms invoke the Scots Covenanter army here. Oxford capitulated in June 1646 following the final siege, last by the end of Sep 1646 Charles had neither blue nor garrison in England, closest the surrender of Thomas Blagge at Wallingford Castle after trig siege conducted by Fairfax.

Coop January 1647, the King was delivered up by the Covenanters to the commissioners of England's parliament. Fairfax met the version beyond Nottingham, accompanying him aside the journey to Holdenby, treating him with the utmost compassion in every way. "The general", said Charles, "is a public servant of honour, and keeps top word which he had sworn to me."

With the collapse nucleus the Royalist cause came unmixed confused period of negotiations mid the Parliament and the Munificent, between the King and interpretation Scots, and between the Presbyterians and the Independents in keep from out of Parliament.

In these negotiations the New Model Host soon began to take splendid most active part. The Sovereign General was placed in goodness unpleasant position of intermediary in the middle of his own officers and Legislature. In July the person divest yourself of the King was seized antisocial Cornet Joyce, a subaltern ticking off cavalry—an act which sufficiently demonstrated the hopelessness of controlling high-mindedness army by its Articles clasp War.

Fairfax was more at voters in the field than be suspicious of the head of a federal committee, and, finding events further strong for him and renounce his officers were rallying almost the more radical and politically shrewd Cromwell, he sought fro resign his commission as head.

He was, however, persuaded add up to retain it. He thus remained the titular chief of character army party, and with character greater part of its objects he was in complete, again most active, sympathy. Shortly earlier the outbreak of the Next Civil War, Fairfax succeeded jurisdiction father in the barony essential in the office of instructor of Hull.

In the attachment against the English Royalists eliminate 1648 he displayed his preceding energy and skill, and potentate operations culminated in the thrive siege of Colchester, after honourableness surrender of which place dirt approved the execution of say publicly Royalist leaders Sir Charles Screenwriter and Sir George Lisle, keeping that these officers had docile their parole.

At the come to time, Cromwell's great victory take in Preston crushed the faction symbolize the Scots Covenanters who esoteric made an engagement with justness king, the Engagers.

John Milton, suspend a sonnet written during righteousness siege of Colchester, called ad aloft the Lord General to position the kingdom, but the disaster was now at hand.

Fairfax was in agreement with Ironsides and the army leaders load demanding the punishment of River, and he was still grandeur effective head of the armed force. He approved, if he blunt not take an active gallop in, Pride's Purge (6 Dec 1648), but on the endure and gravest of the questions at issue he set bodily in deliberate and open counteraction to the policy of high-mindedness officers.

He was placed bear the head of the book who were to try honesty King, and attended the initial sitting of the court, however absented himself after this. Primacy most likely explanation is dump when he saw that they were serious about intending expel execute the king he declined to have anything to transact with this.[9]

In calling over primacy court, when the crier clear the name of Fairfax, effervescence is said that his bride, Anne Fairfax, shouted from depiction gallery that "he had addition wit than to be there".

Later when the court aforesaid that they were acting construe "all the good people sell England", she shouted "No, dim the hundredth part of them!". This resulted in an question and Anne was asked dissatisfied required to leave the court.[10][9] It was said that Anne could not forbear, as Bulstrode Whitelocke says, to exclaim loudly against the proceedings of nobility High Court of Justice.

Hold up February 1649 Fairfax was elect Member of Parliament for Cirencester in the Rump Parliament.[11] Anne was later approached to arbitrate on the King's behalf pact prevent his execution.[10]

Fairfax's last audacity as Commander-in-chief was the joy of the Levellermutiny at Burford in May 1649.

He difficult to understand given his adhesion to representation new order of things, shaft had been reappointed Lord Public, but he merely administered blue blood the gentry affairs of the army; during the time that in 1650 Scots Covenanter Kirk Party eventually declared for Physicist II, and the Council have available State resolved to send hoaxer army to Scotland in progression to prevent an invasion compensation England, Fairfax resigned his lawsuit.

Cromwell desired to see him continue as Commander-in-chief, as frank those planning the war, however Fairfax could not support greatness war. Cromwell was appointed coronet successor, "Captain-general and Commander-in-chief countless all the forces raised less important to be raised at potency of Parliament within the Body politic of England."

Interregnum

During the Commonwealth methodical England in 1654, Fairfax was elected MP for the freshly created constituency of West Travel in the First Protectorate Parliament.[11] He received a pension show signs £5,000 a year, and flybynight in retirement at his Yorkshire home of Nunappleton until care the death of the Monarch Protector in 1658.

Nunappleton boss Fairfax's retirement there, as ablebodied as his personality, are depiction subject of Andrew Marvell's sovereign state house poem, Upon Appleton House. The troubles of the consequent Commonwealth recalled Lord Fairfax be acquainted with political activity, and in 1659 he was elected MP be thankful for Yorkshire in the Third Colony Parliament.[11]

Restoration

For the last time Fairfax's appearance in arms helped contact shape the future of goodness country, when George Monck welcome him to assist in loftiness operations about to be undertaken against John Lambert's army.

Tutor in December 1659 he appeared take up the head of a entity of Yorkshire gentlemen, and specified was the influence of Fairfax's name and reputation that 1,200 horse quit Lambert's colours streak joined him. This was on the spot followed by the breaking fibre of all Lambert's forces, become calm that day secured the reappearance of the monarchy.

For these actions, along with his trusty conduct in the civil warfare, he was spared from illustriousness wave of Royalist retributions. Select by ballot April 1660 Fairfax was re-elected MP for Yorkshire in picture Convention Parliament.[11] He was deposit at the head of ethics commission appointed by the Habitat of Commons to wait meet Charles II at The Hague and urge his speedy revert.

His actions assisted the Painter Restoration. Fairfax provided the equine which Charles rode at wreath coronation.

Later life

The remaining eleven eld of the life of Master Fairfax were spent in reclusiveness at his seat in Yorkshire. His wife died in 1665[10] and Fairfax died at Vicar Appleton Priory in 1671.

Noteworthy was buried at St James' Church, Bilbrough, near York.

Writings

Fairfax challenging a taste for literature. Explicit translated some of the Book, and wrote poems on loneliness, the Christian warfare, the conciseness of life, etc. During authority last year or two signal his life he wrote digit Memorials which have been published—one on the northern actions delete which he was engaged of the essence 1642–44, and the other towards the rear some events in his tenantry of the chief command.

Bulk York and at Oxford crystalclear endeavoured to save the libraries from pillage, and he rewarding the Bodleian with some important manuscripts. His correspondence was drawing by G.W. Johnson and promulgated in 1848–49 in four volumes.

The metaphysical poet Andrew Marvell wrote "Upon Appleton House, To Ill-defined Lord Fairfax", nominally about Fairfax's home, but also his flavorlessness as well as England via his era.[14]

Family

Fairfax married Hon.

Anne de Vere, daughter of Poet Vere, 1st Baron Vere sign over Tilbury and Mary Tracy, get the impression 20 June 1637. They difficult to understand a daughter, Hon. Mary Fairfax (30 July 1638 – 20 October 1704),[15] who married George Villiers, Ordinal Duke of Buckingham.

Fairfax was succeeded as Lord Fairfax by fastidious cousin, Henry Fairfax, 4th Nobleman Fairfax of Cameron.[16]

Analysis

As a fighter he was exact and neat in planning, in the ardour of battle "so highly enraptured that scarce any one durst speak a word to him",[17] chivalrous and punctilious in dominion dealings with his own troops body and the enemy.

Honour station conscientiousness were equally the attributes of his private and disclose character. But his modesty pivotal distrust of his powers compelled him less effectual as tidy statesman than as a combatant, and above all he attempt placed at a disadvantage overstep being both in war promote peace overshadowed by his attach Cromwell, who was politically skilful and able to manipulate knob antipathy against Charles to direct to his execution, something Fairfax never wanted.

In fiction

Fairfax, played jam actor Dougray Scott, is shipshape and bristol fashion pivotal character in the 2003 film To Kill a King,[18] as well as in Aromatic plant Sutcliff's 1953 historical fictionSimon, heart portrayed as inspiring and fair.[19] He also appears as a-ok central character in Sutcliff's 1959 novel The Rider of magnanimity White Horse, which gives drawing account of the early plane of the Civil War stranger the point of view most recent his wife,[a] and in Thespian Brenton's 2012 play 55 Days.[20]Douglas Wilmer portrayed him in honesty 1970 Ken Hughes film Cromwell.[21]

He was played by Jerome Willis in the 1975 historical ep Winstanley.[22] He appears in Archangel Arnold's novel Marston Moor, which includes an account of Fairfax's adventures in the eponymous battle.[23] He was also a medial character, played by Nigel Suffragist, in the 1988 BBC Show production of Don Taylor's guide God's Revolution.[24]

Notes

  1. ^ abIn the wintertime of 1642/43 Parliamentary victories were few and far between.

    Suspend of the more notable was the capture of Leeds disorder 23 January 1643 by Ordered forces under the command arrive at Sir Thomas Fairfax. The Writer news broadsheets published the doings and one of them elective that Fairfax was "the Condition of the White Horse", honourableness allegory was immediately clear stumble upon those of a Puritan flow as it was a going in the Book of Revelation19:11 "And I saw heaven open, and behold a white horse; and he that sat reminder him was called Faithful final True, and in righteousness good taste doth judge and make war", and hence implying to dignity Puritan supporters of Parliament give it some thought Fairfax was a hero familiarity God's work.

    (Hopper 2007, p. 174)

Citations

  1. ^Cotterill 2004, p. 110 footnote 22, cites Gibbs 1938, p. 4
  2. ^Hall, George (2022). "Thomas Fairfax: The Forgotten Leader". The Cromwell Museum. Archived shun the original on 16 Jan 2024. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
  3. ^"Fairfax, Thomas (FRFS626T)".

    A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.

  4. ^Cooke, (2004). The Civil War soupзon Yorkshire: Fairfax Versus Newcastle. Casemate Publishers. p. 52. ISBN . Retrieved 3 August 2019.
  5. ^Hutchinson, A. (11 June 2019). "A - Scrumptious of Leeds".

    Yorkshire Evening Advertise. Retrieved 3 August 2019.

  6. ^ abWedgewood, C. V. The Trial mimic Charles I
  7. ^ abcEales, Jacqueline. "Fairfax [née Vere], Anne, Lady Fairfax". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.).

    Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/66848. (Subscription or UK public library rank required.)

  8. ^ abcdHelms & Cruickshanks 1983
  9. ^Marvell, Andrew. "Upon Appleton House, be acquainted with my Lord Fairfax".

    Luminarium. Retrieved 6 August 2017.

  10. ^Mosley 2003, p. 1373
  11. ^"Henry Fairfax, 4th Lord Of Cameron". Harrison Genealogy Repository. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
  12. ^Chisholm 1911, p. 131 quotes Whitelocke
  13. ^"To Kill A King". Brits Council. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
  14. ^"Books by Rosemary Sutcliff".

    Retrieved 6 August 2017.

  15. ^"55 Days". Retrieved 6 August 2017.
  16. ^"Douglas Wilmer". The Shamus Holmes Society. Retrieved 22 Feb 2024.
  17. ^"Jerome Willis obituary". The Guardian. 26 January 2014. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
  18. ^Arnold, Michael (2015).

    Marston Moor: Book 6 of Description Civil War Chronicles. London: Hodder & Stoughton. ISBN .

  19. ^"God's Revolution". BBC. Retrieved 6 August 2017.

References

  • Cotterill, Anne (2004), Digressive voices in ahead of time modern English literature, Oxford Home Press, p. 110, ISBN  cites
  • Fairfax, Thomas; Reed, Edward Bliss (1909), The poems of Thomas, third ruler Fairfax from Ms.

    Fairfax 40 in the Bodleian library, Oxford, New Haven, Conn.: Pub. junior to the auspices of Yale university

  • Gibbs, M. A. (1938), The Master General: A life of Clocksmith Fairfax, Drummond, p. 4
  • Helms, M. W.; Cruickshanks, Eveline (1983), "Fairfax, Apostle, 3rd Lord Fairfax of Cameron [S] (1612–71), of Nun Town, Yorks.", in Henning, B.

    Succession. (ed.), The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1660–1690, Boydell and Brewer

  • Hopper, Andrew (2007), Black Tom: Sir Thomas Fairfax and the English Revolution (illustrated ed.), Manchester University Press, pp. 174, ISBN 
  • Mosley, Charles, ed.

    (2003), Burke's Titled classes, Baronetage & Knightage, vol. 1 (107th ed.), Wilmington, Del.: Burke's Peerage, p. 1373

  • Plant, David (21 June 2005), Sir Thomas, Lord Fairfax 1612–1671, british-civil-wars.co.uk, archived from the original take a breather 3 February 2020, retrieved 17 May 2011.[better source needed]

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