Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Fairfax, Henry (1634-1702)
FAIRFAX, HENRY (1634–1702), dean of Norwich, was a twin son (with John) of Charles Fairfax [q. v.], antiquary and genealogist. Thomas, first lord Fairfax [q. v.], was his grandfather. He was educated at Magdalen College, Oxford, where he graduated B.D. 26 April 1660, and D.D. 10 March 1680. He was elected a fellow in 1659, and was senior fellow in 1687, when James II endeavoured to force on the college a president of his own choosing. Fairfax signed the petition to the king (9 April 1687) begging him to cancel his decree ordering the fellows to elect Anthony Farmer [q. v.] When that appeal failed he voted for a second petition to the same effect (15 April), and on 17 April took a prominent part in electing John Hough to the presidentship. With his colleagues he wrote to the Duke of Ormonde (19 April), entreating his intervention with James II. On 6 June he was summoned before the court of high commission at Whitehall. On 13 June he was brought before Jeffreys, president of the court, protested loudly against the proceedings, denied their legality, and declined to sign any answer to the charges brought against him. Jeffreys abused him roundly, and told him he was fit for a madhouse. On 22 June 1687 the high court commissioners suspended Fairfax from his fellowship; but he disputed the validity of the act, and still resided in the college. When the royal commissioners first visited Magdalen on 20 Oct. Fairfax absented himself, although he was in Oxford, whereupon he was pronounced contumacious (31 Oct.) He appeared before the commissioners next day, and boldly denied the right of the king's new nominee, Samuel Parker, bishop of Oxford, to act as president. He would appeal, he said, to the court of king's bench, and with another fellow, Thomas Stafford, signed a plainly worded protest against the proceedings of the Oxford visitors. On being warned of the dangers that awaited him if he persisted in his conduct he withdrew the document, but he was finally expelled the college and his name struck off the books (25 Oct.) On 11 Nov. his fellowship was filled up. On 22 Dec. he was included in the decree which disqualified all the expelled fellows of Magdalen from holding any ecclesiastical benefice. After the abdication of James II Fairfax was restored to his fellowship (26 Oct. 1689). A year later (23 Oct. 1689) he was rewarded for his independence with the deanery of Norwich, and he died there on 2 May 1702, aged 68, being buried in the cathedral.
He is one of the persons credited with the authorship of 'An Impartial Relation of the whole proceedings against St. Mary Magdalen Colledge in Oxon.... in 1687, 1688, although it is usually claimed for Charles Aldworth, vice-president of the college.
[Bloxam's Magdalen College and James II (1886-8), published by Oxford Hist. Soc.; Macaulay's Hist. of England, Bishop Cartwright's Diary (Camd. Soc.), pp. 62, 87, 92.]