The Pourtraicture of his Excellency S:r Thomas Fairfax

Dateca. 1650

Artist/Maker William Faithorne

MediumEtching and line engraving

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1981-4

DescriptionLower margin reads: "The Pourtraicture of his Excellency S:.r Thomas / Farfax Generall of all the English Forces for/ the Service of y:.e two houses of Parliament./ Guil Faithorne Sculp:"
Label TextPortrait of Thomas, 3rd Lord Fairfax of Cameron after the work of Robert Walker (1599-1658) who was the commanding general of the Parliamentary army during the English Civil War though he disapproved of Oliver Cromwell's radicalism and because of this was spared the harsh retribution conducted against other leaders of the revolt. He played an active role in the Restoration of Charles II after turning to the Royalist cause. He was succeeded by cousin Henry Fairfax, 4th Lord Fairfax of Cameron whose son, married Catherine Colepepper (Culpepper, Colepeper) whose father, Thomas Colepeper, 2nd Baron Colepeper who inherited a land grant on the Northern Neck of Virginia (granted to John 1st Baron Colepeper by Charles II for his loyalty to the crown during the Civil War) and served as Governor of Virginia from 1677-1683. Their son, Thomas, 6th Lord Fairfax moved to his proprietory lands on the Northern Neck of Virginia in 1747 where he became the only resident peer in the Thirteen colonies.