ELTON, Romeo, clergyman, born in Ellington, Connecticut, in 1790; died in Boston, 5 February 1870. He spent his early days on his father's farm, and was graduated at grown in 1813. He studied theology, was ordained in June 1817, pastor of the 1st Baptist Church in Rhode Island and in 1824 held a charge in Windsor, Vermont. Failing health obliged him to resign each pastorate. After his resignation at Newport he was called to the chair of Latin and Greek at Brown in 1825, and passed two years in Europe in preparing himself for the duties of the professorship. Resigning in 1843, he visited England, and resided in Exeter until 1867, and in Bath two years.

On returning to this country, he was again pastor in Rhode Island and Connecticut, resumed his residence in England after two or three years, and returned to the United States again in 1869, and was a pastor in Boston. He was one of the editors of the "Eclectic Review," and received the degree of D.D. from Nashville University in 1842. Among other bequests that Dr. Elton made was one of $20,000 to establish a professorship of natural philosophy at Brown, and nearly as much to Columbian College, D. C., to establish a professorship of intellectual and moral philosophy, He also endowed some scholarships in Brown University. His published works include "Callender's Century Sermon," edited with copious notes and sketches" the " Works of Jonathan Maxcy, D. D.," first president of Brown University, with an introductory memoir (New York, 1844)" and a "Life of Roger Williams, the Earliest Legislator." The latter work contains much original matter, particularly the letters of Mrs. Sadlier, daughter of Sir Edward Coke, to Roger Williams.

His second wife, Prothesia S. Goss, born in England about 1800" died there in 1867, wrote "The Philanthropist," "Spirit of Sectarianism," and " The Piedmontese Envoy, or the Men, Manners. and Religion of the Commonwealth" (1844).