Henry Harington

Life

Born at Kelston, Somerset during September 1727, he was the son of Henry Harington of Kelston, and of Mary, daughter of Richard Backwell. On 17 December 1745 he matriculated at The Queen's College, Oxford, and graduated B.A. in 1749, M.A. in 1752. While at Oxford he joined a musical society set up by William Hayes, and restricted to competent sight-readers.

Dropping a plan of taking holy orders, Harington studied medicine, and in 1753 established himself as a physician at Wells, Somerset. He accumulated his degrees in medicine in 1762.

In 1771 Harington moved to Bath, Somerset, where he composed in spare time, and founded the Bath Harmonic Society. The Duke of York appointed him his physician. He was also an alderman and magistrate of Bath, and served as mayor in 1793. Bath at that time had a substantial population of French exiles caused by the French Revolution, leading to tension, and his term as mayor 1793–4 saw Harington active against radicalism, and attempting to clean up Bath's streets. His efforts went further than the Home Office desired.

Harington died on 15 January 1816, in Bath, and was buried at Kelston, in the church chancel. A monument to him was place in Bath Abbey.

Works

Harington published:

These collections had been preceded by compositions issued separately: Eloi! Eloi! or the Death of Christ, a sacred dirge for Passion week; Old Thomas Day; Give me the Sweet Quaker's Wedding; The Stammering Song; and The Alderman's Thumb (a glee). His round How great is the pleasure, and duet How sweet in the woodlands, were once popular. He was also author of:

Family

Harington married Martha Musgrave in 1752, They had two sons, Sir Edward Harington the writer, and Henry Harington the antiquarian, who died in 1791. Their daughter Susanna Isabella (1762–1835) married Josiah Thomas, later Archdeacon of Bath, in 1794.