FENTON, ELIJAH, was born in Staffordshire, in the year 16S3. Being designed for the church, he was admitted a pensioner of Jesus College, Cambridge, in 1700. After taking a bachelor's degree, he was forced to leave the University in consequence of being a non-juror. He became secretary to the Earl of Orrery, and accompanied that noble man to Flanders. After his return to England, in 1705, he accepted the situation of assistant at Mr. Bonwicke's school, at Headly in Surrey, and subsequently became bead-master of the free grammar school at Sevenoaks in Kent. Mr. St. John (afterwards Lord broke) persuaded him to retire from this school, promising to do great things for him, which promises were never fulfilled. Lord Orrery again befriended him, and made him tutor to his son, Lord Broghill. This office lasted for six or seven years, during which Fenton became acquainted with Pope, and assisted him in the transla tion of the Odyssey.' The first, fourth, nineteenth, and twentieth books are said to be the work of Fenton. In 1723 he produced, at the thsatre in Lincoln's Inn Fields, a tragedy, called 'Mariamne,' which was so successful that he is reported to have gained 10001. by its
representation, and to have employed great part of the money in paying off the debts which St. John's conduct had caused him to incur. In 1727 be revised a new edition of Milton's works, and prefixed a life of the author; and in 1729 ho published a fine edition of Waller. Through the recommendation of Pope, be became tutor to the son of Lady Trumbull ; and when that occupation was at an end, she made him auditor of her accounts. He died in 1730.
All biographers bear testimony to Fenton's character as an upright and honourable man. His poetical works are but few in number, and consist of short pieces, chiefly paraphrases from the ancients. As they have scarcely any merit but that of correct versification, they will probably never be rescued from the neglect into which they now have sunk. The tragedy of 'Mariamne,' like most of that time, is totally forgotten.