(1612-1671), a British commander during the war between Charles I and Parliament. In this struggle he served as cavalry officer in the Parliamentary army and first distinguished himself at Marston Moor. Later he was for a time commanding general of all the Parliamentary forces, and the victory at Naseby was due in large measure to him. Because Fairfax would not march against the Scotch when they proclaimed Charles II king, Cromwell was made commander in chief in his stead and Fairfax withdrew from the army. During Richard Cromwell's short rule Fairfax was a member of Parliament, and he was one of the delegates who conferred with Charles II. He wrote a history of the civil war.