William Fairfax (soldier)
Encyclopedia
Sir William Fairfax was a soldier.
Fairfax was the second son of Sir Philip Fairfax of Steeton and Frances Sheffield. In 1629 William Fairfax married Frances, daughter of Sir Thomas Chaloner of Guisborough in Cleveland, and sister of James
and Thomas Chaloner
, the regicides. He was knighted by Charles I
at Whitehall
on 1 June 1630. In 1636 he succeeded to the family estates at Steeton and Newton Kyme
. In 1642 he took the side of the parliament, and signed the Yorkshire petition of 12 May 1642, beseeching the king to trust to parliament and dismiss his guards. He was given the command of a regiment in the army of Essex, which was stationed on the left wing at the Battle of Edgehill
and ran away. Fairfax then joined his uncle, Ferdinando, lord Fairfax, in Yorkshire, and took part in the capture of Leeds (23 January 1643) and Wakefield (21 May 1643).
In a letter to his wife he says of himself and his cousin: ‘For Thomas's part and mine we rest neither night nor day nor will willingly till we have done God some good service against His and our enemies’. In the victory at Nantwich (25 January 1644) Sir William Fairfax commanded a wing of the horse, and at Marston Moor headed a brigade of foot on the right of the parliamentary line. In August 1644 he was despatched into Lancashire with two thousand Yorkshire horse, and took part in the siege of Liverpool. In the relief of Montgomery Castle
on 18 September 1644 he was mortally wounded, and died the following day. Vicars, who gives a detailed account of the death of Fairfax, states that he had fifteen wounds, and adds that his widow said ‘that she grieved not that he died in this cause, but that he died so soon to do no more for it’. Parliament voted 1,500l. for the widow and children, and on 7 September 1655 the council of state voted them 2,000l. more in lieu of arrears of pay due to their father.
Fairfax was the second son of Sir Philip Fairfax of Steeton and Frances Sheffield. In 1629 William Fairfax married Frances, daughter of Sir Thomas Chaloner of Guisborough in Cleveland, and sister of James
James Chaloner
James Chaloner was an English politician on the Parliamentary side in the English Civil War, and commissioner at the trial of King Charles I.On the 10 April 1648 he became the Member of Parliament for Aldborough, Yorkshire...
and Thomas Chaloner
Thomas Chaloner
Thomas Chaloner is the name of:* Sir Thomas Chaloner , English statesman and poet* Sir Thomas Chaloner , English naturalist who introduced alum manufacturing to England...
, the regicides. He was knighted by Charles I
Charles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
at Whitehall
Whitehall
Whitehall is a road in Westminster, in London, England. It is the main artery running north from Parliament Square, towards Charing Cross at the southern end of Trafalgar Square...
on 1 June 1630. In 1636 he succeeded to the family estates at Steeton and 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...
. In 1642 he took the side of the parliament, and signed the Yorkshire petition of 12 May 1642, beseeching the king to trust to parliament and dismiss his guards. He was given the command of a regiment in the army of Essex, which was stationed on the left wing at the Battle of Edgehill
Battle of Edgehill
The Battle of Edgehill was the first pitched battle of the First English Civil War. It was fought near Edge Hill and Kineton in southern Warwickshire on Sunday, 23 October 1642....
and ran away. Fairfax then joined his uncle, Ferdinando, lord Fairfax, in Yorkshire, and took part in the capture of Leeds (23 January 1643) and Wakefield (21 May 1643).
In a letter to his wife he says of himself and his cousin: ‘For Thomas's part and mine we rest neither night nor day nor will willingly till we have done God some good service against His and our enemies’. In the victory at Nantwich (25 January 1644) Sir William Fairfax commanded a wing of the horse, and at Marston Moor headed a brigade of foot on the right of the parliamentary line. In August 1644 he was despatched into Lancashire with two thousand Yorkshire horse, and took part in the siege of Liverpool. In the relief of Montgomery Castle
Montgomery Castle
Montgomery Castle is a stone masonry castle looking over the town of Montgomery in Powys, mid Wales. It is one of many Norman castles on the border between Wales and England.- Motte & Bailey Castle :...
on 18 September 1644 he was mortally wounded, and died the following day. Vicars, who gives a detailed account of the death of Fairfax, states that he had fifteen wounds, and adds that his widow said ‘that she grieved not that he died in this cause, but that he died so soon to do no more for it’. Parliament voted 1,500l. for the widow and children, and on 7 September 1655 the council of state voted them 2,000l. more in lieu of arrears of pay due to their father.