Edward Fairfax (c. 1580 – 27 January 1635) was an English translator.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. He translated Torquato Tasso's Jerusalem Delivered. He also wrote an original work on demonology.
Life 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,The History and Topology of Harrogate and Knaresbourough Forest by William Grainge near Harrogate, Yorkshire, England.
He is best known for his translation of Torquato Tasso's Jerusalem Delivered, considered a masterpiece.Tasso, T., Fairfax, E. (1818). Godfrey of Bulloigne; or, The recovery of Jerusalem: done into English heroical verse, from the Italian of Tasso. 5th ed., reprinted from the original folio of 1600. London: Printed for Edwards and Knibb. 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, in which he was a devout believer.
Edward's daughters Elizabeth and Anne were baptised in the village church of Fewston in 1606 and 1621 respectively. It is unknown when his eldest daughter Ellen was baptised.
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