William Fairfax (died 1597) facts for kids
Sir William Fairfax (born by 1531 – died 1 November 1597) was an important English politician. He lived at Gilling Castle and Walton in Yorkshire.
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Who Was Sir William Fairfax?
Sir William Fairfax was the oldest son of Sir Nicholas Fairfax of Gilling. When his father passed away in 1571, William took over his family's responsibilities and estates.
Early Life and Knighthood
In 1560, William Fairfax was made a knight. This was a special honor given by the King or Queen for loyalty and service. From 1562 until he died, he worked as a Justice of the Peace for Yorkshire. A Justice of the Peace was like a local official who helped keep law and order and settled small disputes in the community.
Sir William's Political Career
Sir William Fairfax was very active in the government of his time. He held several important positions that helped him serve the people of England.
Member of Parliament
Sir William was a Member of Parliament (MP) twice. An MP is someone chosen to represent an area in the Parliament of England. Parliament was (and still is) the main law-making body of the country.
- In 1558, he represented the area of Boroughbridge.
- In 1597, he represented the larger area of Yorkshire.
Other Important Roles
Besides being an MP, Sir William had other key jobs:
- He was the High Sheriff of Yorkshire from 1577 to 1578. The High Sheriff was the chief law enforcement officer for the county, like a top police official.
- From 1577 until his death, he was also a member of the Council in the North. This council was a special group that helped govern the northern parts of England for the Crown (the King or Queen).
Family Life and Legacy
Sir William Fairfax passed away in 1597, not long after he was elected to Parliament for the second time.
He was married twice. His first wife was Agnes, the daughter of George, Lord Darcy. Later, he married Jane, who was the daughter of Brian Stapleton. Sir William had one son named Thomas. Thomas later became a very important person himself, being given the title of Viscount Fairfax in 1629. A Viscount is a noble title, ranking below an Earl but above a Baron.
