Brian Fairfax
Encyclopedia
Brian Fairfax, LL.D. (1633–1711), was an English politician.
, was born at the rectory at Newton Kyme
, Yorkshire, on 6 October 1633. He gives some account of his early life in a manuscript narrative written for his sons. He was educated for four years at a school at Coxwold
in Yorkshire, after which he was sent to Trinity College, Cambridge
, graduating B.A. in 1651 and M.A. in 1655.
, and on his return was present at the marriage of his second cousin Mary Fairfax to the Duke of Buckingham
at Nun Appleton, Yorkshire. When Buckingham was sent to the Tower of London
by the Protector
, Brian accompanied his cousin Lord Fairfax
to Whitehall when he went to demand his son-in-law's release. Brian was constantly with Lord Fairfax during the latter years of his life, and was present at his death. At the end of 1659 Lord Fairfax sent Brian Fairfax on a delicate and dangerous mission to General Monck, who was then in Scotland. In a tract named ‘Iter Boreale,’ published in the ‘Fairfax Correspondence,’ Fairfax describes his journey and his interview with the general. Upon his return he found Lord Fairfax, 1 January 1660, calling to his standard the gentlemen of Yorkshire, and took an active part in their organisation. On 6 January he was despatched upon a mission from Lord Fairfax to Lenthall, the speaker of the House of Commons
, in London, with an explanation of the intention of the movements in the north. Before his return Monck had reached Yorkshire, and Fairfax was present at the interview between Monck and Lord Fairfax at Nun Appleton.
Shortly afterwards, when the parliament sent a commission with Lord Fairfax at its head to the Hague to invite the return of Charles II
, Brian accompanied his cousin in the capacity of private secretary. He was afterwards associated with the Duke of Buckingham in two diplomatic visits to the continent, and also acted as Buckingham's agent until prudence led him to resign. He was appointed equerry to Charles II on 21 Jan. 1670, and held the office until the king's death, when he resigned. He took no part in politics under James II. In 1688 he went over to Holland with his young son Brian to pay his respects to the Princess Mary
, who was godchild to his cousin the Duchess of Buckingham. He was received very cordially, and when William III
came to the throne Brian was made one of his equerries. At the age of fifty-six he found the duties onerous, and after three years he accepted the post of secretary to a fellow-Yorkshireman, Archbishop Tillotson.
, in 1699.
to Trinity College, Cambridge, in 1694, and proceeded B.A. in 1697. Charles, elected to Christ Church, Oxford
, in 1702, was dean of Down and Connor from 1722 till his death on 27 July 1723. He is described as ‘a good scholar in the old Irish character’ (Cotton, Fasti Eccles. Hibern. iii. 227; Welch, Alumni Westmonast. pp. 224, 228, 240; information from Mr. C. R. Markham, C.B.).
Early life
Brian Fairfax, the second son of the Rev. Henry FairfaxHenry Fairfax (academic)
-Early life:He was born in 1588 at Denton, Yorkshire, the fourth son of Thomas Fairfax, 1st Lord Fairfax of Cameron. Two of his brothers were Ferdinando Fairfax and Charles Fairfax. His uncle, Edward Fairfax, who, says Brian Fairfax, was very serviceable to his brother, the first lord Fairfax, in...
, was born at the rectory at Newton Kyme
Newton Kyme
Newton Kyme is a village and a civil parish near the River Wharfe, in the Selby District, in the English county of North Yorkshire. It is near the town of Tadcaster. For transport there is the A659 road nearby. Newton Kyme has a place of worship and a castle called Kyme Castle.- References...
, Yorkshire, on 6 October 1633. He gives some account of his early life in a manuscript narrative written for his sons. He was educated for four years at a school at Coxwold
Coxwold
Coxwold is a village and civil parish in the Hambleton district of North Yorkshire, England. It is situated 18 miles north of York and is where the Rev. Laurence Sterne wrote A Sentimental Journey....
in Yorkshire, after which he was sent to Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
, graduating B.A. in 1651 and M.A. in 1655.
Political career
In 1658 he went to France with the Earl of KildareWentworth FitzGerald, 17th Earl of Kildare
Wentworth FitzGerald, 17th Earl of Kildare PC , styled Lord Offaly until 1660, was an Irish peer.-Background:...
, and on his return was present at the marriage of his second cousin Mary Fairfax to the Duke of Buckingham
George Villiers, 2nd Duke of Buckingham
George Villiers, 2nd Duke of Buckingham, 20th Baron de Ros of Helmsley, KG, PC, FRS was an English statesman and poet.- Upbringing and education :...
at Nun Appleton, Yorkshire. When Buckingham was sent to the Tower of London
Tower of London
Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, separated from the eastern edge of the City of London by the open space...
by the Protector
Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell was an English military and political leader who overthrew the English monarchy and temporarily turned England into a republican Commonwealth, and served as Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland....
, Brian accompanied his cousin Lord Fairfax
Thomas Fairfax, 3rd Lord Fairfax of Cameron
Thomas Fairfax, 3rd Lord Fairfax of Cameron was a general and parliamentary commander-in-chief during the English Civil War...
to Whitehall when he went to demand his son-in-law's release. Brian was constantly with Lord Fairfax during the latter years of his life, and was present at his death. At the end of 1659 Lord Fairfax sent Brian Fairfax on a delicate and dangerous mission to General Monck, who was then in Scotland. In a tract named ‘Iter Boreale,’ published in the ‘Fairfax Correspondence,’ Fairfax describes his journey and his interview with the general. Upon his return he found Lord Fairfax, 1 January 1660, calling to his standard the gentlemen of Yorkshire, and took an active part in their organisation. On 6 January he was despatched upon a mission from Lord Fairfax to Lenthall, the speaker of the House of Commons
Speaker of the House of Commons
Speaker of the House of Commons can refer to:*Speaker of the House of Commons *Speaker of the House of Commons of Canada*Speaker of the Northern Ireland House of Commons...
, in London, with an explanation of the intention of the movements in the north. Before his return Monck had reached Yorkshire, and Fairfax was present at the interview between Monck and Lord Fairfax at Nun Appleton.
Shortly afterwards, when the parliament sent a commission with Lord Fairfax at its head to the Hague to invite the return of Charles II
Charles II of England
Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
, Brian accompanied his cousin in the capacity of private secretary. He was afterwards associated with the Duke of Buckingham in two diplomatic visits to the continent, and also acted as Buckingham's agent until prudence led him to resign. He was appointed equerry to Charles II on 21 Jan. 1670, and held the office until the king's death, when he resigned. He took no part in politics under James II. In 1688 he went over to Holland with his young son Brian to pay his respects to the Princess Mary
Mary II of England
Mary II was joint Sovereign of England, Scotland, and Ireland with her husband and first cousin, William III and II, from 1689 until her death. William and Mary, both Protestants, became king and queen regnant, respectively, following the Glorious Revolution, which resulted in the deposition of...
, who was godchild to his cousin the Duchess of Buckingham. He was received very cordially, and when William III
William III of England
William III & II was a sovereign Prince of Orange of the House of Orange-Nassau by birth. From 1672 he governed as Stadtholder William III of Orange over Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Guelders, and Overijssel of the Dutch Republic. From 1689 he reigned as William III over England and Ireland...
came to the throne Brian was made one of his equerries. At the age of fifty-six he found the duties onerous, and after three years he accepted the post of secretary to a fellow-Yorkshireman, Archbishop Tillotson.
Later life
On the death of the archbishop in 1694 Fairfax retired into private life at York, where he devoted himself to literary work, and to acting as the friend and mentor of the younger generations of his family. He carried on a correspondence with most of the literary men of his day. Some interesting communications of his are among the correspondence of Bishop Atterbury. He wrote a life of the Duke of Buckingham, translated the life of the Huguenot, Philip Mornay, seigneur du Plessis, and several poems from his pen are extant, the principal of which is ‘The Vocal Oak, a Lament upon Cutting down the Woods at Nun Appleton.’ He also edited and published ‘The [Autobiographical] Short Memorials’ of his cousin, Thomas Fairfax, 3rd Lord Fairfax of CameronThomas Fairfax, 3rd Lord Fairfax of Cameron
Thomas Fairfax, 3rd Lord Fairfax of Cameron was a general and parliamentary commander-in-chief during the English Civil War...
, in 1699.
Family
Brian Fairfax died on 20 Sept. 1711. He had married, on 22 April 1675, in Westminster Abbey, Charlotte, daughter of Sir Edmund Cary. She died 14 Nov. 1709. Three sons, Brian, Ferdinando, and Charles, were educated at Westminster School. Brian Fairfax, the younger, born 11 April 1676, entered as a queen's scholar in 1690; was elected to Trinity College, Cambridge, in 1693; proceeded B.A. 1697, and M.A. 1700; became fellow of Trinity in 1698; and was commissioner of customs from 1723 till his death, 9 Jan. 1748–9 (Gent. Mag. 1749, p. 44). He collected a valuable library and a gallery of pictures at his house in Panton Square. A catalogue of the library preparatory to a sale by auction was printed in April 1756. But, by a subsequent arrangement, the whole was sold to Mr. Child of Osterley Park, Middlesex. It remained at Osterley till May 1885, when it was sold by Sotheby for the Earl of Jersey. A catalogue of Brian Fairfax's pictures and curiosities was issued in 1759. They were then in the possession of Robert Fairfax, who resided at Leeds Castle, Kent, and became seventh Lord Fairfax on the death of his brother Thomas in 1782. Ferdinando was elected from WestminsterWestminster School
The Royal College of St. Peter in Westminster, almost always known as Westminster School, is one of Britain's leading independent schools, with the highest Oxford and Cambridge acceptance rate of any secondary school or college in Britain...
to Trinity College, Cambridge, in 1694, and proceeded B.A. in 1697. Charles, elected to Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church or house of Christ, and thus sometimes known as The House), is one of the largest constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England...
, in 1702, was dean of Down and Connor from 1722 till his death on 27 July 1723. He is described as ‘a good scholar in the old Irish character’ (Cotton, Fasti Eccles. Hibern. iii. 227; Welch, Alumni Westmonast. pp. 224, 228, 240; information from Mr. C. R. Markham, C.B.).