Thomas Fairfax 3rd Baron Fairfax of Cameron

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Fairfax, Thomas, 3rd Baron Fairfax of Cameron (1612-71). Born in Denton in north Yorkshire, Fairfax served in the Low Countries under Lord Vere, whose daughter he married in 1637. He commanded a troop of dragoons in the Bishops' war against the Scots (1639), but sided with parliament on the outbreak of the English civil war (see British civil wars) and raised troops in Yorkshire. Beaten at Seacroft Moor and Adwalton Moor in 1643, he joined Cromwell that autumn, and at Winceby the two men checked the royalist threat to the eastern counties. He commanded part of the victorious Anglo-Scots army at Marston Moor, and was a natural choice for the post of captain general (C-in-C) when the New Model Army was raised in 1645. He showed great skill as an organizer and chose his officers with care. Although the New Model had still not settled down, he led it to victory at Naseby in June 1645, and went on to beat the royalist armies in the west.

In the second civil war he sent Cromwell, his lieutenant general (second in command), to deal with the Scots while he reduced Colchester. He had two royalist commanders shot when they surrendered as they had broken parole given in 1646. However, he opposed the execution of the king, and although he helped put down the Leveller mutinies he laid down his command in 1650. He played a leading part in bringing about the Restoration in 1660. Fairfax possessed all the military virtues: he was brave, just, a natural leader, capable administrator, and good tactician.

— Richard Holmes

Fairfax, Sir Thomas (1612-71). Fairfax was probably the best commander on the parliamentary side in the civil wars. His career started inauspiciously in March 1643 when he was beaten by Goring at Seacroft Moor in Yorkshire, but he turned the tables on Goring in May 1643, capturing him at Wakefield. He then gained an impressive string of victories at Winceby, Nantwich, Selby, and Marston Moor. In the winter of 1644 he was busy training the New Model Army to unprecedented standards of efficiency. In the spring of 1645 he replaced Essex as commander-in-chief and his two great victories at Naseby in June and Langport in July knocked the heart out of royalist resistance.