Charles Smith (1786–1856) was an English singer, known also as an organist, and a composer of theatrical music and songs.

Life

Born in London, he was a grandson of Edward Smith who was page to the Princess Amelia, and son of Felton Smith, a chorister at

Christ Church, Oxford Christ Church ( la, Ædes Christi, the temple or house, '' ædēs'', of Christ, and thus sometimes known as "The House") is a constituent college of the University of Oxford in England. Founded in 1546 by King Henry VIII, the college is uniqu ...

. At the early age of five, he became a pupil of Thomas Costellow for singing. Then, in 1796, on the advice of

Samuel Arnold Samuel Arnold may refer to: *Samuel Arnold (composer) (1740–1802), English composer and organist * Samuel Arnold (Connecticut politician) (1806–1869), U.S. Representative from Connecticut * Samuel Arnold (conspirator) (1834–1906), co-conspira ...

, he became a chorister at the

Chapel Royal The Chapel Royal is an establishment in the Royal Household serving the spiritual needs of the sovereign and the British Royal Family. Historically it was a body of priests and singers that travelled with the monarch. The term is now also applie ...

under

Edmund Ayrton Dr. Edmund Ayrton (1734 – 22 May 1808) was an English organist who was Master of the Children of the Chapel Royal. Early life Edmund Ayrton was born in Ripon and baptised on 19 November 1734. His father was Edward Ayrton (1698-1774), a 'bar ...

, where he sang the principal solo in the anthem on the marriage of

Charlotte Augusta Matilda Charlotte, Princess Royal (Charlotte Augusta Matilda; 29 September 1766 – 5 October 1828), was Queen of Württemberg as the wife of Frederick I of Württemberg, King Frederick I. She was the eldest daughter and fourth child of King George III o ...

, the princess royal, to the Prince of Würtemberg on 18 May 1797. In 1798 Smith was articled to John Ashley, and in the following year was engaged to sing at

Ranelagh Gardens Ranelagh Gardens (; alternative spellings include Ranelegh and Ranleigh, the latter reflecting the English pronunciation) were public pleasure gardens located in Chelsea, then just outside London, England, in the 18th century. History The Ran ...

, the Oratorio, and other concerts. In 1803 he went on tour in Scotland, but, his voice having broken, he dropped singing temporarily, and devoted himself to teaching and organ-playing: he acted as deputy for

Charles Knyvett Charles Knyvett (11 February 1752 – 19 January 1822) was an English singer and organist. He established in 1791 in London the Vocal Concerts, a series of subscription concerts. Life He was born in Westminster, son of Charles Knyvett and his wif ...

and

John Stafford Smith John Stafford Smith (bapt. 30 March 175021 September 1836) was a British composer, church organist, and early musicologist. He was one of the first serious collectors of manuscripts of works by Johann Sebastian Bach. Smith is best known for w ...

at the Chapel Royal and for

James Bartleman James Karl Bartleman (born 24 December 1939) is a former Canadian diplomat and author who served as the 27th Lieutenant Governor of Ontario from 2002 to 2007. Bartleman grew up in the Muskoka town of Port Carling, and he is a member of the ...

at Croydon Chapel. On Bartleman's retirement, Smith was appointed organist there; but shortly afterwards he went to Ireland with a theatrical party as tenor singer, and on his return, a year later, he became organist of the Welbeck Chapel in succession to

Charles Wesley junior Charles Wesley junior (11 December 1757 in Bristol – 23 May 1834 in London) was an English organist and composer. He was the son of Sarah and Charles Wesley (the great hymn-writer and one of the founders of Methodism), and the brother of Samue ...

. With

Isaac Pocock Isaac Pocock (2 March 1782 – 23 August 1835) was an English dramatist and painter of portraits and historical subjects. He wrote melodramas, farces and Light Opera, light operatic comedies, many being stage adaptations of existing novels. Of hi ...

, Smith next turned his attention to writing for the theatre, and produced in rapid succession the music to the farces ''Yes or No!'', produced at the

Haymarket Theatre The Theatre Royal Haymarket (also known as Haymarket Theatre or the Little Theatre) is a West End theatre on Haymarket in the City of Westminster which dates back to 1720, making it the third-oldest London playhouse still in use. Samuel Foote ...

on 31 August 1808, ''Hit or Miss'', produced at the Lyceum Theatre on 26 February 1810, ''Anything New'', produced on 1 July 1811, and ''Knapschou, The Forest Fiend'', a melodrama. He withdrew from theatrical work when Pocock left Drury Lane. In 1813 Smith was singing bass parts at the Oratorio concerts; in 1815 he married a Miss Booth of Norwich; and in 1816 went to fill a lucrative post at Liverpool. He ultimately retired to

Crediton Crediton is a town and civil parish in the Mid Devon district of Devon in England. It stands on the A377 Exeter to Barnstaple road at the junction with the A3072 road to Tiverton, about north west of Exeter and around from the M5 motorway ...

Devon Devon ( , historically known as Devonshire , ) is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in South West England. The most populous settlement in Devon is the city of Plymouth, followed by Devon's county town, the city of Exeter. Devon is ...

, where he died on 22 November 1856.

Works

Some of Smith's compositions enjoyed a vogue, the most popular being a setting of

Thomas Campbell Thomas Campbell may refer to: Arts and entertainment * Thomas Campbell (poet) (1777–1844), Scottish poet * Thomas Campbell (sculptor) (1790–1858), Scottish sculptor * Thomas Campbell (visual artist) (born 1969), California-based visual artist ...

's ''Battle of Hohenlinden''.

Notes

External links

;Attribution {{DEFAULTSORT:Smith, Charles 1786 births 1856 deaths English singers English organists English composers 19th-century organists