Reuben Eaton Fenton (July 4, 1819 – August 25, 1885) was an American merchant and politician from New York.

[3] His paternal aunt, Hannah Fenton was the wife of Lambert Van Buren of Kinderhook, New York.

"During his tenure, Cornell University was founded; a free public school system was initiated; and relief measures were sanctioned that benefited veterans.

"[8] After serving two terms as governor, Fenton lost the November 1868 election to John T. Hoffman, a Tammany-backed Democrat.

In 1868, he was among the candidates to be Vice President but the nomination went eventually to Schuyler Colfax,[9] whom Fenton had previously been allied with in discussing "growing public agitation about" General George B. McClellan's inactivity with President Abraham Lincoln during the U.S. Civil War.

[7] In July 1870, President Grant appointed Thomas Murphy to be the New York Customs House Collector, a position rich with patronage.

Fenton, upon seeing the documents that had been produced by Conkling, slumped over his desk in defeat according to author Ron Chernow.

The actions of Conkling secured his place as the leader of the Republican machine in New York and greatly reduced the clout of Fenton.

He worked to remove tuition charges for public education, helped to establish six schools for training teachers, and signed the charter for Cornell University.

Together, they were the parents of:[5] Fenton died on August 25, 1885, in Jamestown,[13] and was buried in Lake View Cemetery.