Fairbridge was born in Cape Town, the son of recent and relatively affluent British settlers.

His father was district surgeon, based in Uitenhage where Charles Aken grew up.

Fairbridge had entered the first Cape Parliament in 1854, representing Caledon District until 1858.

In 1874 he also returned to Parliament, this time as one of the members representing Cape Town.

He was a strong opponent of the attempts by Lord Carnarvon in the late 1870s to enforce a British confederation on southern Africa.