Fingon went with his father and people from Aman to Middle-earth at the beginning of the First Age. He achieved renown soon after for his daring rescue of Maedhros from Thangorodrim. Fingolfin gave Fingon a domain in Dor-lómin, in the west of Hithlum, where he did good service during the Siege of Angband; defeating Orcs that attempted to go around to the north and attack Hithlum from the west, and then later the first to fight against the dragon Glaurung when he first came forth from Angband.
Fingon became High King when Fingolfin died fighting Morgoth after the Dagor Bragollach. Seven years later, Morgoth's forces invaded Hithlum, and Fingon was hard-pressed and outnumbered, but rescued by Círdan and his people of the Falas, who came up the Firth of Drengist in their ships.
In the Battle of the Nirnaeth Arnoediad, Fingon was nearly victorious; but at the end he was killed by Gothmog Lord of Balrogs.
Turgon became by right the High King of the Noldor, although after the battle he returned to the secrecy of Gondolin.