US Navy Rear Admiral. Fairfax entered the United States Naval Academy on August 12, 1837 and graduated with the class of 1841. After graduation he served for several years at the California Station and participated in the Mexican American war in 1848. On July 16, 1862 he was promoted to Commander and became the commanding officer of the Cayuga of the Western Gulf Squadron. While in that command he served under Admiral Farragut. In addition to commanding the Cayuga he also commanded the Nantucket and Montauk. His next assignment was Superintendent of the Naval Academy from 1863 to 1865. On July 25, 1866 he was promoted to Captain and in 1873 was promoted to Commodore. He was promoted to Admiral on July 11, 1880 and retired on September 30, 1881. He served the Navy for forty eight years with twenty years being spent at sea.