PM and Liberal politician, born at Bridlington, educated at Bridlington School, and a member of St John's Burlington Methodist church. His family were amongst the earliest PMs in the East Riding and he was for many years a Local Preachers. He followed his father's trade as a blacksmith. Active in public life, he was mayor of Bridlington, a JP, and an East Riding County Councillor and alderman, subsequently serving as its vice-chairman.
He unsuccessfully contested Howdenshire in 1922 and Buckrose I923. Then in 1924 he was returned for Bradford East, defeating the sitting Labour member, Frederick William Jowett, who re-took the seat in 1929. In Parliament Fenby gained a reputation for being unconventional and independent-minded, supporting birth control and opposing capital punishment. He was made a whip in 1926. In the rivalries between the supporters of Lloyd George and Asquith, Fenby opposed Lloyd George, being a founder member of the 'conservative', Asquithian 'Radical Group', which became the Liberal Council. He died at Bridlington on 4 August 1956.