BOCHSA

Robert Nicolas Charles . b. Montmédi, France 9 Aug. 1789; harpist to Emperor Napoleon 1813; may fairly be said to have revolutionised harp playing; fled to London having been detected in extensive forgeries 1817; tried in his absence and condemned to 12 years imprisonment; joint manager with Sir G. Smart of the Lent Oratorios 1822, sole manager 1823; profe or of the harp and general sec. at R.A. of Music 24 March 1824 to 1827; conductor at the King’s theatre 1826–32; ran away with Sir H. R. Bishop’s wife 1839; visited every country in Europe except France; went to United States 1847; appeared at Prince of Wales’s theatre Sydney 22 Dec. 1855; wrote an oratorio called Le déluge universel , 8 operas, a Method and many solo pieces, d. Sydney 7 Jany. 1856.