Richard Fenton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Richard Fenton
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| Born | 1747 St Davids, Pembrokeshire
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| Died | 1821 Fishguard, Pembrokeshire
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| Nationality | Welsh |
| Occupation | lawyer, writer, poet |
| Known for | Topography, poetry |
Richard Fenton (born in January 1747, died in November 1821) was a Welsh lawyer, a writer who studied places (called a topographer), and a poet.
A Look at Richard Fenton's Life
Richard Fenton was born in January 1747 in a place called St David's in Pembrokeshire, Wales. He was baptized (a special church ceremony) at St David's Cathedral when he was about a month old.
He went to school at the cathedral and later moved to London. There, he got a job at the custom house, which collected taxes on goods. After that, he joined the Middle Temple, a famous place where people study to become lawyers. Once he finished his studies and became a lawyer (this is called being called to the bar), he worked in different courts across Wales for several years.
Later, Richard Fenton spent his time writing. He was friends with famous people like the writer Oliver Goldsmith and Sir Richard Colt Hoare, who was also a well-known writer and traveler. Fenton traveled all over Wales, looking at old records and writing books about different places. He even took over a shipping business from his uncle. Richard Fenton passed away at his home in Fishguard in November 1821 and was buried nearby.
Richard Fenton's Writings
Richard Fenton wrote many books and poems. Here are some of his important works:
- Poems: He published a collection of his poems in 1773, and then a bigger two-volume set in 1790.
- A Historical Tour through Pembrokeshire: This book, published in 1811, was about the history and places in Pembrokeshire. It included many pictures and a map.
- A Tour in quest of Genealogy through several parts of Wales, Somersetshire, and Wiltshire: This book, also from 1811, was about searching for family histories (genealogy) in different parts of Wales and England.
- Memoirs of an old Wig: Published in 1815, this was a funny book that he wrote without putting his name on it.
- He also translated a very old Greek book called Deipnosophistæ by Athenæus. His handwritten copy of this translation is kept in a special library.
- He wrote an article about a large stone monument called a "Cromlech" in Llanwnda, Pembrokeshire, which appeared in a magazine called Archaeologia Cambrensis in 1848.
- Tours in Wales (1804–1813): This book, published in 1917 after his death, collected his travel writings from his trips around Wales.
Richard Fenton also wrote some plays that were never published and collected a lot of information for histories of every county in Wales.
Richard Fenton's Family
Richard Fenton married a woman named Eloise. Her father, David Pillet, was a military officer from Switzerland.
