FENTON, ELIJAH (1683-1730), English poet, was born atShelton near Newcastle-under-Lyme, of an old Staffordshirefamily, on the 25th of May 1683. He graduated from JesusCollege, Cambridge, in 1704, but was prevented by religiousscruples from taking orders. He accompanied the earl of Orreryto Flanders as private secretary, and on returning to Englandbecame assistant in a school at Headley, Surrey, being soonafterwards appointed master of the free grammar school atSevenoaks in Kent. In 1710 he resigned his appointment in theexpectation of a place from Lord Bolingbroke, but was disappointed.He then became tutor to Lord Broghill, son of hispatron Orrery. Fenton is remembered as the coadjutor ofAlexander Pope in his translation of the Odyssey. He was responsiblefor the first, fourth, nineteenth and twentieth books, forwhich he received 300. He died at East Hampstead, Berkshire,on the 16th of July 1730. He was buried in the parish church,and his epitaph was written by Pope.