Fairfax, Thomas Fairfax, 3rd Baron

Fairfax (of Cameron), Thomas Fairfax, 3rd Baron

(born Jan. 17, 1612, Denton, Yorkshire, Eng.—died Nov. 12, 1671, Nun Appleton, Yorkshire) Commander in chief of the Parliamentary army during the English Civil Wars. His tactical skill and courage helped bring about many Parliamentary victories, including the Battle of Marston Moor. As commander in chief of the New Model Army, he defeated Charles I at the Battle of Naseby. Fairfax disapproved of the purge of Parliament by his soldiers in 1648 and refused to serve on the commission that condemned Charles to death. In 1650 he resigned as commander in chief to protest the proposed invasion of Scotland. In 1658 he helped George Monck restore Parliamentary rule in the face of opposition from the army. He was a member of the Parliament that invited Charles's son to return to England as Charles II.