Albert Fairfax, 12th Lord Fairfax of Cameron

British noble (1870–1939)

The Right Honourable The Lord Fairfax of Cameron
12th Lord Fairfax of Cameron
In The Sketch, 27 May 1903
Tenure	1900–1939
Born	(1870-06-23)23 June 1870 Largo, Maryland, US
Died	4 October 1939(1939-10-04) (aged 69) London, England
Nationality	American
Spouse(s)	Maude Wishart McKelvie
Parents	John Fairfax, 11th Lord Fairfax of Cameron Mary Brown Kirby

Albert Kirby Fairfax, 12th Lord Fairfax of Cameron (23 June 1870 – 4 October 1939), was an American-born Scottish representative peer and politician in the British House of Lords.

Early life

Born at Northampton,^[1] in Largo, Prince George's County, Maryland, Fairfax was discovered to be the rightful holder of his title after it had been essentially forgotten by his family (which had resided in the United States for several generations). After researchers determined Albert Kirby Fairfax to be the 12th Lord Fairfax of Cameron, his title was allowed by the House of Lords in 1908. His father was John Fairfax, 11th Lord Fairfax of Cameron, and his mother was Mary Brown Kirby.

Career

He was a member of Fairfax & Company, of George Street, London. He was a partner of Bonbright & Company, George Street, London.

He was naturalized as a UK citizen on 17 November 1908. He was elected a Scottish Representative Peer and served in that capacity from 19 October 1917 to his death on 4 October 1939.

Personal life

Lord Fairfax of Cameron married Maude Wishart McKelvie, daughter of James McKelvie, in 1922. They had two sons:

Thomas Brian McElvie Fairfax, 13th Lord Fairfax of Cameron (14 May 1923 – 8 April 1964), who married Sonia Helen Gunston (b. 1926)
Peregrine John Wishart Fairfax (8 March 1925 – 23 February 2012)

The 12th Lord Fairfax died in October 1939, aged 69, and was succeeded in the lordship by the elder of his two sons, Thomas.

References

^ John Contec Fairfax in the UK, Naturalisation Certificates and Declarations, 1870–1912, The National Archives; Kew, Surrey, England; Duplicate Certificates of Naturalisation, Declarations of British Nationality, and Declarations of Alienage; Class: HO 334; Piece: 44.

Source

Hesilrige, Arthur G. M. (1921). Debrett's Peerage and Titles of courtesy. London: Dean & Son. p. 359.
Kidd, Charles, Williamson, David (editors). Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage (1990 edition). New York: St Martin's Press, 1990.^{[page needed]}
Leigh Rayment's Peerage Pages ^{[self-published source]} ^{[better source needed]}