FENTON, ELIJAH (1683-173o), English poet, was born at Shelton, near Newcastle-under-Lyme. He graduated from Jesus college, Cambridge, in 1704, and became a schoolmaster. Fenton is remembered as the coadjutor of Alexander Pope in his translation of the Odyssey. He was responsible for the first, fourth, 19th and loth books, for which he received £300. He produced an edition of Milton, with a life (1725), which went through an amazing number of editions; also one of Waller 0729). Other works of his were Oxford and Cambridge Mis cellany Poems (1707), Miscellaneous Poems (1717), and Mariamne, a tragedy (1723). He died at East Hampstead, Berkshire, on July 16, 173o. He was buried in the parish church and his epitaph was written by Pope.
See W. W. Lloyd, Elijah Fenton, his Poetry and Friends ; W. H. Hulme, Two Early Lives of Milton (1924)•