Background
He was born in 1588 at Denton, Yorkshire, the fourth son of Thomas Fairfax, 1st Lord Fairfax of Cameron.
He was born in 1588 at Denton, Yorkshire, the fourth son of Thomas Fairfax, 1st Lord Fairfax of Cameron.
Trinity College.
Henry Fairfax proceeded to Trinity College, Cambridge, of which, in 1608, he became a fellowship They were intimate friends until Herbert"s death in 1634. He gave up his fellowship on accepting the living of Newton Kyme, Yorkshire, from his father.
This preferment he exchanged for a few years for the parish of Ashton-in-Makerfield in Lancashire, returning at the end of that time to Newton Kyme.
Fairfax took an active part in the unsuccessful movement, about 1640, to obtain the foundation of a university for the north. Petitions were sent up to parliament urging the necessity of such a seat of learning.
York and Manchester competed warmly for the honour of receiving lieutenant In 1646 Fairfax was removed from Newton Kyme to the neighbouring, and much richer, rectory of Bolton Percy.
At that time, his position being doubtful, he voluntarily withdrew in favour of a Mr.
Wickham, and retired to a private estate which he had inherited at Oglethorpe, Yorkshire. Fairfax was an admirable parish priest, and something of an antiquarian and genealogist.