Great popularity attended him at the east end. In October 1832 he was at the Strand Theatre, whence he went to the Surrey. An unsuccessful engagement at the Haymarket, under Morris, in 1833 came to a speedy termination. He then returned to the minor theatres, was in the spring of 1836 at the Adelphi, and 10 Jan. 1837 at Covent Garden, under Osbaldiston's management, made a success as Walter Tyrrell in the drama so named. On the production, 26 June 1837, at the Haymarket of 'The Bridal,' adapted by Sheridan Knowles from the 'Maid's Tragedy' of Beaumont and Fletcher, he gained much credit as Amintor. He was then engaged for Covent Garden, at which house he was the original Beauseant in the 'Lady of Lyons.' At Drury Lane, 1839–40, he played Romeo and Rolls, and was the original Rizzio in Haynes's 'Mary Stuart.' He then retired to the minor theatres, and in 1841–2 returned with Macready to Drury Lane. The theatre closed 14 June 1843. Before the termination of the season he accepted an engagement of a month from W. Murray of the Edinburgh Theatre. Returning thence to London on board the Pegasus, he was drowned, the ship having struck on a rock near Holy Island and gone down. A strong sensation was caused by his death, and benefits for his children, to which liberal subscriptions were sent, took place at many theatres. The chair at a preliminary meeting in London for the purpose was taken by Charles Dickens. Elton was unfortunate in marriage, having been separated from his first wife, and the second wife, a Miss Pratt, the mother of five of his seven children, going mad. In addition to the characters mentioned, Elton was good as Edgar in 'Lear.' He was the original Eugene Aram, Thierry, and Waller in the 'Love Chase' of Sheridan Knowles. Elton contributed a little to periodical literature, and gave lectures on the drama at the National Hall (now the Royal Music Hall), Holborn. He was one of the original promoters of the General Theatrical Fund Association.
[Marshall's Lives of the Most Celebrated Actors and Actresses, no date (1847); Macready's Reminiscences; Era, 30 July 1843; Era Almanack; Memoir of Henry Compton, by his son, 1879; The Owl, 30 July 1831, in which is a coarse portrait of Elton as Sir Giles Overreach.]
ELTON, JAMES FREDERIC (1840–1877), African explorer, born 3 Aug. 1840, was the second son of Lieutenant-colonel Roberts W. Elton of the 59th regiment, Bengal army, and grandson of Jacob Elton of Dedham, Essex. When the Indian mutiny broke out he entered the Bengal army and saw much active service. Having been with the relieving armies at Delhi and Lucknow he was placed on the staff of the commander-in-chief. Sir Hugh Rose (Lord Strathnairn), to whom he was aide-de-camp for some years. His services obtained for him the Indian medal with two clasps. In 1860 he volunteered for service in China, and was present at the taking of Pekin and other engagements, receiving the China medal after the campaign. Soon after gaining his captaincy (98th regiment), he left the English service, and in 1866 joined the staff of the French army in Mexico during the 'reign' of the Emperor Maximilian. On his return to England at the conclusion of the war, he published a graphic account of his adventures, entitled 'With the French in Mexico,' 8vo,
London, 1867. In 1868 he went to Natal, and occupied himself in travelling about the colony until 1870, when he undertook a long journey of exploration from the Tati gold district down to the mouth of the Limpopo, his narrative of which, accompanied by an excellent map, was published in vol. xlii. of the 'Journal' of the Royal Geographical Society. In 1871 he was sent to make reports on the gold and diamond fields, and was also employed on a diplomatic mission to settle differences with the Portuguese authorities. In 1872 he was appointed government agent on the Zulu frontier. After some months he
returned to Natal to recover from a severe attack of fever caused by incessant toil and exposure. While at Natal, he acted as protector of the immigrant native labourers, and became a member of the executive and legislative councils. Desirous of engaging in more active work, in 1873 he left Natal entrusted with various important missions: one of which was to treat with the governor-general of Mozambique and the sultan of Zanzibar, regarding the laying down of a telegraph cable from Aden; the second, to inquire into the emigration of native labour from Delagoa Bay and to confer with the governor-general of Mozambique; and the third, to meet Sir Bartle Frere at Zanzibar, and assist in considering the slave-trade question. During the same year he was appointed by Sir Bartle Frere assistant political agent and vice-consul at Zanzibar, with a view to assist Dr. Kirk in the suppression of the East African slave-trade. While occupying this post he made an interesting journey along the coast country between Dar-es-Salaam and Quiloa, or Kilwa, an account of which, enriched with observations on the products of the country, was published, with a map supplied by him, in vol. xliv. of the 'Journal' of the Royal Geographical Society. In March 1875 he was promoted to the office
