He was the natural son of Sir Thomas Fairfax the elder, of Denton in Yorkshire, and a half-brother of Thomas Fairfax, 1st Lord Fairfax of Cameron (1560–1640). Fairfax lived at New Hall, Fewston,[3] near Harrogate, Yorkshire, England.
He is best known for his translation of Torquato Tasso's Jerusalem Delivered, considered a masterpiece.[4] It is one of the comparatively few translations which in themselves are literature and was highly praised by John Dryden. The first edition appeared in 1600, and was dedicated to Queen Elizabeth I of England. Fairfax also wrote a treatise on demonology,[5] in which he was a devout believer.[6]
Edward's daughters Elizabeth and Anne were baptised in the village church of Fewston in 1606 and 1621 respectively.[3]
Notes
^Bullen, Arthur Henry (1889). "Fairfax, Edward". In Dictionary of National Biography. 18. London. pp. 131-132. Errata appended, 1904.
^Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Fairfax, Edward". Encyclopædia Britannica. 10. (11th ed.) Cambridge University Press. p. 130.
^ abThe History and Topology of Harrogate and Knaresbourough Forest by William Grainge