Erastus Fairbanks was born in 1792 in Brimfield, Massachusetts, and later settled in St. Johnsbury, Vermont, where he co-founded E. & T. Fairbanks & Co. with his brother. He had a long-standing career in manufacturing and infrastructure, evidenced by his involvement in the Hadley Falls Dam project and the Passumpsic Railroad. Fairbanks also co-founded St. Johnsbury Academy and served multiple terms in the Vermont House of Representatives. He held the office of Governor of Vermont twice, during which he enforced a prohibition law and supported industrial growth.

Erastus Fairbanks's political identity is marked by a distinctive blend of industrial advocacy and moral conservatism. His support for infrastructure projects like the Hadley Falls Dam and Passumpsic Railroad underscores a commitment to economic growth, yet he simultaneously enforced a strict prohibition law during his governorship. This juxtaposition reveals a calculated approach to balancing regional economic interests with moral governance. Fairbanks's role in aiding the Civil War effort further complicates his ideological profile, suggesting a nuanced stance that merits deeper exploration.