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 Bryan Fairfax, he was born at Mount Eagle, Virginia. Fairfax entered the Navy as a midshipman on August 12, 1837. He was the only member of the family who took the Union side in the American Civil War. The 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. References 1818 births 1894 deaths 19th-century American Episcopalians American people of English descent American people of Scottish descent Burials at Rose Hill Cemetery (Hagerstown, Maryland) Episcopalians from Maryland Episcopalians from Virginia Donald Military personnel from Maryland Military personnel from Virginia People from Fairfax County, Virginia People from Hagerstown, Maryland People of Virginia in the American Civil War Union Navy officers United States Navy rear admirals (upper half)