The Fairfax Battalia takes its name from Sir Thomas Fairfax who was appointed the first captain general of the New Model Army in 1645 and was colonel of his own regiment of Foot and Horse.
Fairfax was born on 17th January 1612 at Denton in Yorkshire and died on 12th November 1671.Fairfax was educated at the University of Cambridge and was a cultured person who was interested in Roman antiquities and cultivating roses. He did, however, also gain military experience at an early age. In 1629, at the age of 17, he went abroad to fight on behalf of the Dutch against the Spanish as part of the English Brigade under Sir Horace Vere. He remained there until 1631, taking part in the siege of Bois-Le-Duc. He also led a unit of Yorkshire dragoons known as the Yorkshire Redcaps in Scotland during the Bishop’s Wars, and in 1640 was knighted for his support.The Fairfax family were strongly Parliamentarian and at the outbreak of the English Civil War in 1642, now aged 30, he was appointed Commander of the Parliamentarian Horse in Yorkshire. There he saw considerable action, involved in a range of skirmishes and battle including Wakefield, Adwalton Moor, Winceby and the fighting retreat to Hull in 1643. Already he was being hailed as a hero by the London press. In 1644 he led the attack on Selby and at Marston Moor was in command of the right wing of the Parliamentary army. Few of his officers were unwounded as he broke through the Royalist lines. He was widely admired on both sides: a strict disciplinarian who won the trust of his soldiers through his fair dealing and personal courage and a general not afraid of fighting against the odds. Fairfax was a soldier rather than politician. As he was not a Member of Parliament he was not affected by the Self-Denying Ordinance and, as the best available officer, was thus appointed as the first Commander in Chief of the New Model Army in 1645. He appointed Oliver Cromwell as his Lieutenant-General of Horse. Fairfax immediately set about organising its formation and training as England’s first professional army, uniting the earlier regional armies which had difficulties operating outside their own areas and with rivalries between the different command structures. He put his principles into practice with his own regiment - the First Regiment of Foot or 'General's Regiment' and refused to give it to any privileges connected with his command. This re-organisation of the army revitalised the Parliamentary cause and brought ultimate victory in the war, with the decisive victories in 1645 at Naseby and Langport.
Despite his decisive military role, Fairfax was a moderate in his political and religious views. He refused to condemn Charles I to death and resigned his commission in 1650 rather than lead an invasion of Scotland, his former allies. It was at this point that Oliver Cromwell was appointed as Commander in Chief of the New Model Army. Fairfax did, however, return to active service to mobilise the Yorkshire Militia in 1651 when the Scots invaded England.
Fairfax then retired from public life and supported the restoration of Charles II in 1660. He died in 1671.
For a chronology of Sir Thomas Fairfax's life click HERE.
For an example of a contemporary newssheet, detailing Fairfax's capture
of Exeter in 1646 click HERE.
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