Want fewer ads?

Elijah Fenton (1683 — 1730) was a poet, biographer and translator.

Born in Shelton (now Stoke-on-Trent), and educated at Jesus College, Cambridge, for a time he acted as secretary to the Charles Boyle, 4th Earl of Orrery in Flanders, and was then Master of Sevenoaks Grammar School.

In 1707, Fenton published a book of poems. He later became tutor to Sir William Trumbull's son at Easthampstead Park in Berkshire and is now best known as the assistant of his neighbour, Alexander Pope, in his translation of the Odyssey, of which he 'Englished' the first, fourth, nineteenth, and twentieth books, catching the manner of his master so completely that it is hardly possible to distinguish between their work; while thus engaged he published (1723) a successful tragedy, Marianne. His later contributions to literature were a Life of Milton, and as an editor of Waller's Poems (1729).

He died on 16th of July 1730, and is buried in the churchyard of the Parish Church of St Michael and St Mary Magdalene at Easthampstead in Berkshire.

There is a memorial to him on the wall of the church, with an epitaph by Alexander Pope. This reads:-

To the memory of Elijah Fenton of Shelton in Staffordshire, who dyed at Easthampstead Anno 1730, aged forty seven years. In honour of his great integrity & Learning. William Trumbell Esq erected this monument.

This modest stone what few vain marbles canMay truly say, here lies an honest manA poet blest beyond the poets fateWhom heav'n left sacred from the proud and greatFoe to loud praise and friend to learned easeContent with science in the vale of peaceCalmly he look'd on either life & hereSaw nothing to regret, or there to fearFrom natur's temp'rate feast rose satisfy'dThank'd heav'n that he had liv'd and that he dy'd.

A. POPE

This author page uses material from the Wikipedia article "Elijah Fenton", which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0