[3] He was appointed a member of the nominee Tasmanian Legislative Council by Sir John Franklin in 1840, and was one of the "Patriotic Six" who resigned their seats in the Council in order to frustrate the financial policy of Governor John Eardley-Wilmot, in October 1845.
When responsible government was conceded, he entered the House of Assembly for New Norfolk and was elected the first Speaker in December 1856.
Her father, Reverend John Russel Knox, was rector of Lifford and Inishmagrath, County Leitrim.
Michael Fenton died at his residence 'Fenton Forest',[5] about 22 kilometres west of New Norfolk, on 6 April 1874[6] at the age of 85.
[3] Elizabeth wrote a journal titled A Narrative of Her Life in India, the Isle of France and Tasmania During the Years 1826–1830.