Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1903-03-12
FAIRFAX BOWS TO EDWARD VII.

FAIRFAX BOWS TO EDWARD VII.
A cablegram from London states that
Lord Fairfax, of New York, an Ameri-
can by birth, Scotsman by title and an
Englishman by domicile, baron, banker
and bachelor, was, on Monday last, pre-
sented to King Edward, of whose realm
he is peer, but of whom he is not a
subject.
The presentation was made by Lord
Kinniard, and the King was much in
terested as the young mans complicated
status was explained to him.
Albert Kirby Fairfax, the Lord Fair
fax, Baron of Cameron, who was pre-
sented to King Edward, was born in
1870. His father, Dr. John Fairfax, OF
Iceland, Prince Georges comfy, Md,
who died sometime ago, was the undis-
puted eleventh Baron Fairfax, but he
had such an utter disdain for all things
pertaining to royalty that he never made
capital of his position, nor took any ap-
parent interest in the royal happenings
in England.
Not so with the present Baron Fairfax.
This young man, whose mother still re-
sides in Prince George county, employed
attorneys shortly after the death of his
father to formally lay claim to the title.
This has been practically accomplished,
as the young man was formally bid to
attend the coronation.
The title of Baron Fairfax was created
in 1927, and the fifth Lord Fairfax left
his home and estates in Scotland in 1922
for America, because he was disappoint-
ed in love and believed himself ill-treated
by the members of his family. BY an
arrangement with the crown he secured
a grant of land in what was then included
in Virginia, amounting TO 5000, 600
acres. On this palatial home for those
days was built and Lord Fairfax became
power as the wealthiest man in the
colonies. He was the friend of Wash
ington and employed the latter for sur
vey work, familiar fact to all who have
read the life of the Father of His
Country. The seat of the Fairfax family
vas near to Mount Verno /, and was a
thering place for the gentry of the
time, meintainiry 3 a reputation for
notable + pit" y.
Lord Fairfax died without children
and his property was inherited by his
brother, William Fairfax, who married
Sally Cary, 'ahe Lowland beauty" of
whom it is sold that she Tilted Washing
ton. This couple had no childen, and
when William Fairfax died Robert, his
younger brother, came into the title and
estate. From him the Fairiaxes of the
United States are descended. During
the Revolutionary War the title was
held by Rev. Bryan Fairfax, who was
rector of Christ Church, Alexandria, of
which Washington was yestfyman. He
sympathized with the colonies, was an
intimate friend of Washington and con-
tributed generously from his private
purse toward the cause of liberty.
From him, after two generations, was
descended John Fairfax, who was el-
titled to place in the English peerage,
but did not care to claim it. He lived
in Washington, where previous to the
outbreak of the war he was in high pro-
fessional repute. On the outbreak
of the war, however, his sympa-
thies went to the South, with the result
that he was practically ostracised in the
circles in which he had moved and his
practice fell away sadly. Deciding to
leave Washington after these misfortunes
he bought the place in Maryland, not
far from the District, where he spent
the remainder of his life in quiet pur-
suits, a country gentleman of a delight
full personality, with no ambition to
herald himself Earl of Culpeper, but
eminently proud Of being an American
citizen.
DR.. Fairfax left two sons and three
daughters. One daughter, Josephine,
married Mr.. Tunstal Smith, of New
York.
When the coronation plans were pub
lished in America young Fairfax decid-
ed to go over to England and claim bis
rights to be present at the crowning Of
King Edward and wear the robes and
coronet of baron, though without TAX
ing the oath of allegiance to the British
monarch The situation was unique,
but the equity of the application was
undeniable, and Lord Fairfax's demand
was granted.
Since that time he has resided in