Charles Rufus Fairbanks was a lawyer, judge, entrepreneur and political figure in Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...

. He represented Halifax township in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly

Nova Scotia House of Assembly

The Nova Scotia Legislature, consisting of Her Majesty The Queen represented by the Lieutenant Governor and the House of Assembly, is the legislative branch of the provincial government of Nova Scotia, Canada...

 from 1826 to 1836.

He was born in Halifax

City of Halifax

Halifax is a city in Canada, which was the capital of the province of Nova Scotia and shire town of Halifax County. It was the largest city in Atlantic Canada until it was amalgamated into Halifax Regional Municipality in 1996...

, the son of Rufus Fairbanks and Ann Prescott. Fairbanks was educated at King's College

University of King's College

The University of King's College is a post-secondary institution in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. King's is a small liberal arts university offering mainly undergraduate programs....

 in Windsor

Windsor, Nova Scotia

Windsor is a town located in Hants County, Mainland Nova Scotia at the junction of the Avon and St. Croix Rivers. It is the largest community in western Hants County with a 2001 population of 3,779 and was at one time the shire town of the county. The region encompassing present day Windsor was...

 and the Séminaire de Québec. He went on to study law with Simon Bradstreet Robie

Simon Bradstreet Robie

Simon Bradstreet Robie was a lawyer, judge and political figure in Nova Scotia. He represented Truro Township from 1799 to 1806 and Halifax County from 1806 to 1826 in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly....

 and was called to the bar in 1811. In 1815, he married Sarah Elizabeth, the daughter of William Lawson Sr.

William Lawson (banker)

William Lawson was a businessman, office holder, justice of the peace, and politician. He was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and was the son of John Lawson and Sarah Shatford.-Business and public career:...

. Fairbanks was secretary-treasurer for the Shubenacadie Canal Company. He served in the province's Executive Council as solicitor general. In 1834, he was named master of the rolls

Master of the Rolls

The Keeper or Master of the Rolls and Records of the Chancery of England, known as the Master of the Rolls, is the second most senior judge in England and Wales, after the Lord Chief Justice. The Master of the Rolls is the presiding officer of the Civil Division of the Court of Appeal...

 and judge in the vice admiralty court

Vice admiralty court

Vice admiralty courts were juryless courts located in British colonies that were granted jurisdiction over local legal matters related to maritime activities, such as disputes between merchants and seamen. Judges were given 5% of confiscated cargo, if they found a smuggling defendant guilty...

. He also served on the board of governors for King's College. Fairbanks died in Halifax after suffering a stroke

Stroke

A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...

 at the age of 51.

His younger brother Samuel Prescott Fairbanks

Samuel Prescott Fairbanks

Samuel Prescott Fairbanks was a lawyer and political figure in Nova Scotia, Canada. He represented Queen's County from 1836 to 1847 in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly....

was also a lawyer and served in the provincial assembly.