The Dictionary of Australasian Biography/Fenton, James
Fenton, James, son of James Fenton, was born at Dunlavia, County Wicklow, Nov. 20th, 1820. His father was a landholder in the county, but in consequence of religious and political disturbances in Ireland, emigrated with his family to Tasmania in 1833. Mr. Fenton was educated at Elton School, Arklow, and afterwards at the schools of Mr. James Thomson and Mr. R. W. Giblin at Hobart. In 1839 he took up land in West Devon, Northern Tasmania, where he was the first settler. He was an active pioneer of the district, was appointed a J.P. in 1856, and was for years Chairman of the Devon Road Trust. After seeing Devon grow into a populous district he fixed his residence in Launceston. Mr. Fenton has for half a century been a constant contributor to colonial newspapers and magazines. His "History of Tasmania" was published at Hobart in 1884. He is also author of the "Life of Rev. Charles Price" (Melbourne, 1886), and "Bush Life in Tasmania Fifty Years Ago" (London, 1891).