Donald McNeill Fairfax

Donald MacNeil Fairfax (March 10, 1818 – January 10, 1894) was an officer in the United States Navy during the American Civil War.

Early life and family The son of George William Fairfax, and Isabella McNeill, grandson of Ferdinando Fairfax, and great-grandson of Lord Bryan Fairfax of Cameron, he was born at Mount Eagle, Virginia. Fairfax entered the Navy as a midshipman on August 12, 1837. His younger brother, Edwin Cary Fairfax (1833-1912), also served in the Union Army, enlisting in the 5th Pennsylvania Cavalry, Company D.

Trent Affair As executive officer in , he was a participant in the 1861 "Trent Affair," a diplomatic controversy involving the U.S. Navy's removal of Confederate commissioners from the British mail-steamer. On November 8, 1861, Fairfax boarded Trent to remove Confederate commissioners James M. Mason and John Slidell, after the ship had been stopped by his captain, Charles Wilkes.

Wilkes had given Fairfax the following written instructions:

Fairfax demanded the passenger list, but Mason and Slidell identified themselves. He escorted Mason by the collar, to the cutter, and with two officers took hold of Slidell from the main cabin. He failed to claim Trent as a prize, citing the loss of manpower of a prize crew (avoiding a worse incident).

Civil War service Fairfax's distinguished service in the Civil War included command of the , and .

Fairfax was later promoted to flag rank, retiring as a rear admiral on September 30, 1881. He retired to Hagerstown, Maryland, where he served on the vestry of Saint John's Church. Admiral Fairfax died in 1894.

Namesake In 1917 the was named in his honor.