Historical Rosters Database

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William Darrell Fair

Roster ID 11
This is a summary. Contact the Archives for additional biographical information.
First Name:William
Middle Name:Darrell
Last Name:Fair
Suffix:
Affiliation:Class of 1842
Biography & Genealogy:William Darrell Fair. Class of 1842. Genealogy- Born ca. 1822; Father- William L. Fair; Marriage- Laura Hunt, of Holly Springs, Mississippi, Feb. 1859; children- one daughter- Lillias Lorraine, b. 1860. VMI record: Entered VMI November 11, 1839 from Amherst, VA; graduated July 4, 1842, standing 1st in a class of 16; served as a cadet assistant professor of mathematics, 1840-1841. Military record: none. Career- lawyer in Yreka, California; member of 1st California legislature. Died December 27, 1861, in San Francisco, CA (suicide). Other information- In 1870, Laura Fair was tried for the murder of prominent San Francisco attorney Alexander Crittenden; this trial was one of the most sensational legal cases in California history. Fair's daughter was an actress whose stage name was Lorraine Hollis.

About the Database

The database currently includes the names of all enrolled students (both graduates and non-graduates) from VMI's opening in 1839 through the World War II era. In addition, you will find biographical and genealogical information, including a summary of military service during the Civil War, for many individuals who attended in the 19th century. The database also includes some historical Faculty and Board of Visitors members, as well as U. S. Army students sent to VMI for training during World Wars I and II. The latter groups were not VMI cadets. For further information about an ancestor listed in the database, please contact the VMI Archives. We can check the complete record, let you know if other information available, and provide copies of original documents. This database is for historical research. We do not release information about living individuals.

VMI Archives
Virginia Military Institute
Lexington, VA 24450
archives@vmi.edu
540-464-7516