Thomas Fairfax, 1st Lord Fairfax of Cameron facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Lord Fairfax of Cameron
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The Lord Fairfax of Cameron
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| Born | 1560 Bilbrough, York |
| Died | 2 May 1640 |
| Nationality | English |
| Title | 1st Lord Fairfax of Cameron |
| Spouse(s) | Ellen Aske |
| Children | 7 (including Ferdinando Fairfax, 2nd Lord Fairfax of Cameron, Hon. Henry Fairfax, and Charles Fairfax) |
| Parent(s) | Sir Thomas Fairfax Dorothy Gale |
Thomas Fairfax (born 1560, died 1640) was an important English nobleman. He was also a soldier, a diplomat (someone who deals with other countries), and a politician. His special title, 'Lord Fairfax of Cameron,' was a noble rank recognized in Scotland.
Contents
Early Life and Military Career
Thomas Fairfax was born in 1560 in Bilbrough, near York. He was the oldest son of Sir Thomas Fairfax and Dorothy Gale.
When he was young, Thomas became a soldier. He fought in the Low Countries (which are now parts of the Netherlands and Belgium). There, he led a group of soldiers under a famous commander, Sir Francis Vere.
Working for the Queen
Queen Elizabeth I often sent Thomas on important missions. He delivered messages and held talks with James VI of Scotland. James later became King James I of England. James even offered Thomas a noble title, but Thomas politely said no at that time.
Thomas also served in France under Robert Devereux, the Earl of Essex. He was knighted by the Earl in Rouen in 1591. This meant he earned the title "Sir Thomas Fairfax."
Political Life and Noble Title
Thomas Fairfax was also a Member of Parliament (MP) several times. An MP is a person elected to represent an area in the country's government. He represented Lincoln in 1586, Aldborough in 1588, and Yorkshire in 1601 and 1625.
After James I became king, Thomas settled down at his home, Denton Hall. This estate was near Ilkley in Yorkshire. He loved horses and even wrote books about how to ride and care for them.
Becoming a Lord
When Charles I became king, Thomas was again an MP for Yorkshire. He listed all the services he had given to the country. Because of his long service, on May 4, 1627, he was given the title 'Lord Fairfax of Cameron.' This title was part of the Scottish nobility. He also paid £1,500 to help make this happen.
Thomas Fairfax passed away on May 1, 1640. He was buried next to his wife, Ellen, in a church in Otley. A large tomb with statues of them both still stands there.
Writings and Interests
Thomas Fairfax was a very busy man and also a writer. He wrote several books and papers.
Books on Various Topics
One of his works was called 'Dangers Diverted, or the Highway to Heidelbergh.' It was a long discussion, about 150 pages. He also wrote 'Conjectures about Horsemanship,' showing his love for horses.
He wrote about the local military forces, like 'The Malitia of Yorkshire' and 'The Malitia of Durham.' He even wrote against horse racing in one of his papers.
Running a Household
One of his most detailed works was 'The Order for the Government of the House of Denton.' This book explained exactly what every servant in his large household should do. It showed how organized he was.
Family Life
In 1582, Thomas Fairfax married Ellen Aske. She was from Aughton, Yorkshire.
His Children
Thomas and Ellen had several children. Their oldest son, Ferdinando Fairfax, later became the 2nd Lord Fairfax of Cameron. Two other sons, Henry and Charles, were also well-known.
In 1620, two of his younger sons, William and John, were serving in the English army. Thomas, even with his white hair, went to visit them. He bought horses and weapons for them. Sadly, in 1631, he learned that both William and John had died in battle. Other sons, Peregrine and Thomas, also died violently around the same time.
Thomas Fairfax also had two daughters. Dorothy married Sir William Constable. His other daughter, Anne, married Sir George Wentworth.
See also
