Donald Fairfax
Encyclopedia
Donald MacNeil Fairfax was an officer in the United States Navy
during the American Civil War
.
The son of George William Fairfax, and Isabella McNeill, grandson of Ferdinando Fairfax
, and great-grandson of Bryan Fairfax
, he was born at the family seat of Mount Eagle
, Virginia
. Fairfax entered the Navy as a midshipman
on August 12, 1837. He was the only member of the family who took the Union side in the American Civil War
.
," a diplomatic controversy involving the U.S. Navy's removal of Confederate commissioners from the British mail-steamer, . On November 8, 1861, Fairfax boarded Trent to remove Confederate
commissioners James M. Mason
and John Slidell
, after the ship had been stopped by his captain, Charles Wilkes
.
Wilkes had given Fairfax the following written instructions:
Fairfax demanded the passenger list, but Mason and Slidell identified themselves. He escorted Mason by the collar, to the cutter, and with two officers took hold of Slidell from the main cabin. He failed to claim Trent as a prize, citing the loss of manpower of a prize crew (avoiding a worse incident).
Fairfax was later promoted to flag rank, retiring as a Rear Admiral
on September 30, 1881. He retired to Hagerstown, Maryland
where he served on the vestry of Saint John's Church
. Admiral Fairfax died in 1894.
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
The son of George William Fairfax, and Isabella McNeill, grandson of Ferdinando Fairfax
Ferdinando Fairfax
Ferdinando Fairfax was a Virginia landowner and member of the prominent Fairfax family.- Life :...
, and great-grandson of Bryan Fairfax
Bryan Fairfax, 8th Lord Fairfax of Cameron
Bryan Fairfax , 8th Lord Fairfax of Cameron, boyhood friend of George Washington, became the first American-born member of the house of Lords.-Biography:...
, he was born at the family seat of Mount Eagle
Mount Eagle (plantation)
Mount Eagle, Fairfax County, Virginia, USA, was the home of Bryan Fairfax.John Colville of Newcastle upon Tyne owned which he called Cleesh. When he died, he left to the Earl of Tankerville, settled in 1797....
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. Fairfax entered the Navy as a midshipman
Midshipman
A midshipman is an officer cadet, or a commissioned officer of the lowest rank, in the Royal Navy, United States Navy, and many Commonwealth navies. Commonwealth countries which use the rank include Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Kenya...
on August 12, 1837. He was the only member of the family who took the Union side in the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
The Trent Affair
As executive officer in , he was a participant in the 1861 "Trent AffairTrent affair
The Trent Affair, also known as the Mason and Slidell Affair, was an international diplomatic incident that occurred during the American Civil War...
," a diplomatic controversy involving the U.S. Navy's removal of Confederate commissioners from the British mail-steamer, . On November 8, 1861, Fairfax boarded Trent to remove Confederate
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
commissioners James M. Mason
James M. Mason
James Murray Mason was a United States Representative and United States Senator from Virginia. He was a grandson of George Mason and represented the Confederate States of America as appointed commissioner of the Confederacy to the United Kingdom and France between 1861 and 1865 during the American...
and John Slidell
John Slidell
John Slidell was an American politician, lawyer and businessman. A native of New York, Slidell moved to Louisiana as a young man and became a staunch defender of southern rights as a U.S. Representative and Senator...
, after the ship had been stopped by his captain, Charles Wilkes
Charles Wilkes
Charles Wilkes was an American naval officer and explorer. He led the United States Exploring Expedition, 1838-1842 and commanded the ship in the Trent Affair during the American Civil War...
.
Wilkes had given Fairfax the following written instructions:
Fairfax demanded the passenger list, but Mason and Slidell identified themselves. He escorted Mason by the collar, to the cutter, and with two officers took hold of Slidell from the main cabin. He failed to claim Trent as a prize, citing the loss of manpower of a prize crew (avoiding a worse incident).
Civil War Service
Fairfax's distinguished service in the Civil War included command of the , and .Fairfax was later promoted to flag rank, retiring as a Rear Admiral
Rear admiral (United States)
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. The uniformed services of the United States are unique in having two grades of rear admirals.- Rear admiral :...
on September 30, 1881. He retired to Hagerstown, Maryland
Hagerstown, Maryland
Hagerstown is a city in northwestern Maryland, United States. It is the county seat of Washington County, and, by many definitions, the largest city in a region known as Western Maryland. The population of Hagerstown city proper at the 2010 census was 39,662, and the population of the...
where he served on the vestry of Saint John's Church
Saint John's Church (Hagerstown, Maryland)
St. John's Church, or St. John's Episcopal Church, founded in 1786, is an historic Episcopal church located at 101 South Prospect Street in the South Prospect Street Historic District of Hagerstown, Maryland...
. Admiral Fairfax died in 1894.