Joseph Ebsworth was an English dramatist and musician.
Early life
The elder son of Joseph and Isabella Ebsworth, he was born at Islington, London, on 10 October 1788, and was early apprenticed to a watch-jeweller named Cornwall; he was later selected to reconstruct the watch of the Prince Regent.
In theatre
Having a rich baritone voice, he joined the operatic company at Covent Garden Theatre immediately after fulfilling his indentures, and early turned to dramatic authorship. He also acted in melodrama, and became secretary to David Edward Morris, of the Haymarket Theatre. In 1822 Ebsworth made a first visit to Scotland. Soon after 1826 he moved from London to Edinburgh, where he held an engagement at the Theatre Royal, as actor and prompter, with his lifelong friend William Henry Murray.
Later life
Ebsworth became established in Edinburgh as teacher of music and singing, and accepted the position of leader of the choir at St. Stephen's Church, which caused him to give up acting; but he continued to write and to translate dramas, which played in London and the provinces. In 1828 he opened an "English and foreign dramatic library and caricature repository" at 23 Elm Row, at the head of Leith Walk, Edinburgh, and for fifteen years maintained it successfully as the main bookseller's shop for periodical literature. Afterwards he resided at 4 Montgomery Street. Ebsworth's vocal and instrumental concerts at the Hopetoun Rooms, Queen Street, were continued annually from 1830 until within a few weeks of his death. He had known Charles Dibdin, and his own entertainments were on the same model. He was for forty years teacher of music, to private pupils, and at the Merchant Maidens' Hospital, Watson's, and the Normal School. He was also a linguist, collector of astrological documents and amateur artist. He was librarian of the Harmonist Society of Edinburgh.
Death
Of Ebsworth's five children born in Scotland, all died young except two sons. News of the sudden death in Australia of his son Charles reached him close on midsummer 1868. He died of an apoplectic seizure, three weeks later, on the fifty-first anniversary of his marriage. He was buried at the Dean cemetery, Edinburgh, at the feet of David Scott F.S.A. On the following Sunday his own music was played and sung in churches of all denominations in Edinburgh.
Works
Many of Ebsworth's dramas were printed. They included:
With A Short Introduction to Vocal Music, Ebsworth published church music, much of it composed for St. Stephen's Church, Edinburgh, and for his lifelong friend the Rev. Dr. William Muir. His legacy included a manuscript collection of his own songs.
Family
On 22 June 1817 Ebsworth married Mary Emma, eldest daughter of Robert Fairbrother, member of the Glovers' Company. He settled in Lambeth, 3 Gray's Walk, where five of his children were born.
