George Eric Fairbairn (18 August 1888 – 20 June 1915) was a British rower who competed in the 1908 Summer Olympics. He was killed in action in the First World War.

Fairbairn was born at Melbourne Australia, the son of Thomas Fairbairn, a pastoralist and his wife Lena Carmyle. He was also the nephew of rower Steve Fairbairn. He was educated at Eton College and Jesus College, Cambridge and rowed for Cambridge in the Boat Race in 1908. At the 1908 Summer Olympics, most of the Cambridge crew competed in the eight which won bronze medal, but Fairbairn went into the coxless pairs with Philip Verdon and won the silver medal. In 1909 he missed the Boat Race because of illness. Fairbairn also played rugby for Rosslyn Park F.C.

George Eric Fairbairn

During the First World War, Fairbairn served as a second lieutenant with the Durham Light Infantry and was killed in action, aged 26, at Bailleul. He was buried at the Bailleul Communal Cemetery nearby.

George Eric Fairbairn

See also

List of Olympians killed in World War I

List of Cambridge University Boat Race crews

References

1888 births

1915 deaths

People educated at Eton College

Alumni of Jesus College, Cambridge

British male rowers

Olympic rowers for Great Britain

Rowers at the 1908 Summer Olympics

Olympic silver medallists for Great Britain

Durham Light Infantry officers

British military personnel killed in World War I

Olympic medalists in rowing

Artists' Rifles soldiers

Medalists at the 1908 Summer Olympics

George Eric

British Army personnel of World War I

George Eric Fairbairn