FENTON, SIR GEOFFREY, an eminent writer and statesman during the reigns of Elizabeth and James I., and brother to Edward Fenton, the navigator, who accompanied Sir Martin Frobisher in his expeditions, and was afterwards sent out independently to endeavour to discover a north-west passage. Sir Geoffrey appears to have received a liberal education, and certainly gave many proofs of his acquaintance with ancient and modern learning. He is best known, however, for his translation of the History of the Wars of Italy by Guicciardini, which he dedicated to Queen Elizabeth. He also published, 1. Certain Tragic Discourses, written out of French and Latin, 1567, in 4to; 2. An account of a dispute at Paris, between two Doctors of the Sorbonne and two Ministers of God's Word, 1571; 3. An Epistle, or Godly Admonition, sent to the Pastors of the Flemish Church at Antwerp, exhorting them to concord with other Ministers; translated from the original of Antonio de Carro, 1578; 4. Golden Epistles, containing variety of Discourses, both moral, philosophical, and divine, gathered as well out of the remainder of Guevara's works, as other authors, Latin, French, and Italian, 1577. The familiar epistles of Guevara had been published in English by Edward Fellowes, in 1574; but Fenton's collection consists of pieces not contained in that publication, and, like his translation of Guicciardini, has risen in public estimation since the language and literature of the Elizabethan age have been more generally studied. In the capacity of queen's counsellor or secretary, Fenton served for a considerable time in Ireland, where his conduct appears to have given great satisfaction to his royal mistress. To his honour be it stated, he took every opportunity of impressing on the mind of the queen the important truth, that the safety and glory of her government in that island depended on her subjects enjoying the protection of equal laws. He died at Dublin, Oct. 19, 1606. (J. B.—E.)