Thomas Britton (14 January
1644 - 27 September 1714) was an English
charcoal merchant best known as a concert promoter.
Biography
Born in
Rushden
, Northamptonshire
, Britton moved to London
at a young
age and apprenticed himself to a small
coal-man (a charcoal merchant) in Clerkenwell
. He learnt the trade and returned to his
home village, but soon returned to London in search of better
opportunities. Setting up a business to rival that of his former
master, he turned a
stable off Aylesbury
Street into his store and home.
In London, Britton became known for his singing voice. His business
proved successful, and he spent much of his spare income on
building up a
library. Through this
activity, he became known to other book collectors, and was able to
meet and discuss literature with various nobles.
Britton also studied
chemistry under the
tutelage of his neighbour
Theophilus Garencières. He
constructed a moving
laboratory for
Garencières, and a Welsh friend of the scientist paid Britton to
construct a similar building for him. Garencières and Britton
became friends, and also shared a love of esoteric ideas, Britton
having an interest in
Rosicrucianism.
In 1678,
Britton fitted the loft of his Clerkenwell
house out as a tiny concert
hall, fitting a harpsichord and an
organ with only five stops.
Despite the unglamorous venue, accessible only by an external
staircase, the relative novelty of a series of concerts, coupled
with the support of
Roger
L'Estrange, who inaugurated the venue with a performance on the
viol, attracted a considerable audience.
Britton's knowledge of literature and the arts became well known,
and his modest and honest nature and acceptance of his social
position was often noted. These were qualities appreciated by
contemporaries who considered themselves socially superior. His
concerts became regarded as the premier venue for
chamber music in London, with an audience
drawn from a wide social strata. At first, concerts were free, but
Britton later requested an annual subscription of ten shillings,
considered exceptionally low even at the time. By 1712,
Ralph Thoresby was able to note: "In our way
home called at Mr. Britton's, the noted small-coal man, where we
heard a noble concert of music, vocal and instrumental, the best in
town, which for many years past he has had weekly for his own
entertainment, and of the gentry, &c., gratis, to which most
foreigners of distinction, for the fancy of it, occasionally
resort."
Britton's social successes sparked some jealousy, and his concerts
were alleged to be meeting places for
religious dissenter,
atheists, or forums for political intrigue. However,
their accessibility and the popularity of Britton gradually put
paid to these rumours.
The most highly regarded musicians in the nation came to play at
Britton's house, including
J. C. Pepusch,
John Banister,
Philip Hart,
Abel Whichelo and it is generally held even
George Frideric Handel, as
did amateurs including
John
Hughes,
Henry Needler and
J. Woolaston.
Matthew Dubourg played in public for
the first time at Britton's, while
Obadiah Shuttleworth is said to have
learnt the organ specifically to be accepted as part of Britton's
crowd. Britton himself played the
viol de
gamba and the
recorder, and began to
compose short pieces.
Samuel Pepys
regarded Britton as an expert on Tudor liturgical music. He amassed
a large music collection and selection of musical instruments for
the gatherings, and designed his own programmes.
In 1694, Britton auctioned a substantial part of his library.
Despite his social successes and considerable income, he continued
to work as a small coal-man all his life.
In
September 1714, Justice Robe, a Middlesex
magistrate, decided to
play a practical joke on the
superstitious Britton. He employed a
ventriloquist named Honeyman to project his
voice and tell Britton that his end was near and that he should
fall to his knees and repeat the
Lord's
Prayer. The elderly Britton did so, and was so affected that he
died within a couple of days.
Following his death, Britton's widow sold his collection of music,
which was mostly purchased by
Hans
Sloane.
References
- Oxford Dictionary of
National Biography
- Paul Henry Lang, George Frideric Handel
- Edwin Paxton Hood, Genius and Industry
- Thomas Britton, the "Musical
Smallcoal-Man"
External links