Richard Elton was an English military writer.

Life

Elton was a native of Bristol

Bristol

Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...

. He joined the militia of the city of London, and in 1649 had risen to the rank of major. In 1654 he was deputy-governor of Kingston upon Hull

Kingston upon Hull

Kingston upon Hull , usually referred to as Hull, is a city and unitary authority area in the ceremonial county of the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It stands on the River Hull at its junction with the Humber estuary, 25 miles inland from the North Sea. Hull has a resident population of...

 under the parliament, and two years later, being then lieutenant-colonel, he was governor-general. His son, Ensign Richard Elton, held some post under him. Much official correspondence between Elton and the admiralty is preserved among the state papers.

Works

Elton was the author of 'The compleat Body of the Art Military, exactly compiled and gradually composed for the foot, in the best refined manner, according to the practise of modern times; divided into three books, the first containing the postures of the pike and musket with their conformities and the dignities of Ranks and Files... ; the second comprehending twelve exercises; the third setting forth the drawing up and exercising of Regiments after the manner of private companies..., together with the duties of all private souldiers and officers in a Regiment, from a Sentinell to a Collonel... ; illustrated with a varietie of Figures of Battail very profitable and deliglitfull for all noble and heroic spirits, in a fuller manner than have been heretofore published. — By Richard Elton, Serjeant-Major,' London, 1650, fol. The volume is dedicated to Thomas Fairfax, and contains a number of laudatory pieces of verse addressed to Elton by his brother officers. Prefixed is a portrait of the author, engraved by John Droeshout. A second edition, with some small additions, was published in 1659, at which time Elton was still living.