Dibdin

Charles, compr. b. South amp- ton, March (baptized Mar. 4), 1745; d. London, July 25, 1814. Chorister at Winchester Cathedral; taught by orgts. Kent and Fu ell the rudiments of music; at 15 went to London, became singing-actor at Covent Garden; composed Shepherd's Artifice, pastoral, 1762; acted at Birmingham, Vauxhall, Drury Lane, where he composed The Padlock and other succe ful pieces; after various unsucce ful ventures as manager and the tour described in his Musical Tour of Mr. Dibdin he gave in London “ table entertainments, in which he sang, played, acted, and accompanied; many famous songs (such as Tom Bowling) included m these pieces; after 1805 DIMMER he was supported by pension and, when that failed, by a public subscription; composed nearly 100 operas and plays with music; his sons, Charles and Thomas, were dramatists.