Thomas Fairfax, 5th Lord Fairfax of Cameron facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Lord Fairfax of Cameron
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Thomas Fairfax, 1684 portrait by John Riley
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| Born | 16 April 1657 |
| Died | 6 January 1710 |
| Nationality | English |
| Title | 5th Lord Fairfax of Cameron |
| Predecessor | Henry Fairfax, 4th Lord Fairfax of Cameron |
| Successor | Thomas Fairfax, 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron |
| Spouse(s) | Catherine Colepepper |
| Children | 7 (including Thomas Fairfax, 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron and Robert Fairfax, 7th Lord Fairfax of Cameron) |
| Parent(s) | Henry Fairfax, 4th Lord Fairfax of Cameron Francis Barwick |
Thomas Fairfax, the 5th Lord Fairfax of Cameron, was an important English nobleman and politician. He was also a Member of Parliament, which means he helped make laws for England. He was born on April 16, 1657, and passed away on January 6, 1710.
Contents
Life of Thomas Fairfax
Thomas Fairfax was born into a well-known family. His great-grandfather was the first Lord Fairfax of Cameron. This family title came from Scotland. Thomas's father was Henry Fairfax, 4th Lord Fairfax of Cameron, and his mother was Frances Barwick.
Thomas Fairfax's Career
Thomas Fairfax went to Magdalen College, Oxford university and finished his studies in 1675. After university, he joined the Yorkshire Militia, which was like a local army. He served under the Earl of Danby.
Military Service and Promotions
In 1688, a big event called the Glorious Revolution happened in England. After this, Thomas Fairfax became a Lieutenant-Colonel in a new army group called Lord Castleton's Regiment of Foot. This group was formed to fight in a war known as the Nine Years' War.
Later, in 1694, King William III made him a Colonel. He was promoted again to Brigadier in 1696. A Brigadier is a high-ranking army officer. The war ended in 1697 with the Treaty of Ryswick. Thomas Fairfax left the army in 1703, holding the rank of Major-General.
Political Role as Member of Parliament
Thomas Fairfax also had a career in politics. He was elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) in 1690 and again in 1695. He usually supported the Tories, who were one of the main political groups at the time. It's important to know that political parties back then were not exactly like they are today.
Because his title was a Scottish one, he was allowed to be an MP in the English Parliament. However, after the 1707 Act of Union in 1707, England and Scotland joined to form Great Britain. This new law meant that Scottish nobles could no longer sit in the English Parliament, so he had to give up his seat.
Treasure Hunt in the West Indies
In 1704, Thomas Fairfax got a special permission from Queen Anne. This permission allowed him to search for sunken ships and treasure in the West Indies for three years. Unfortunately, this adventure did not make him rich; it was not a success financially. He passed away on January 6, 1710.
Fairfax Family Life
In 1685, Thomas Fairfax married Catherine Colepepper. She was the daughter of Thomas Colepeper, 2nd Baron Colepeper. Thomas and Catherine had seven children together. Their children were Thomas Fairfax, 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron, Henry Colpepper Fairfax, Katherine Fairfax, Margaret Fairfax, Frances Fairfax, Mary Fairfax, and Robert Fairfax.
See also
