Dr. Henry Harington (29 September 1727 - 15 January 1816) was an English poet, songwriter, and physician.[1]
Henry Harington (1727-1816). Courtesy Hymntime.
Life[]
Youth and education[]
Harington was born at Kelston, Somersetshire, in September 1727, the son of Henry Harington of that place. Sir John Harington was an ancestor.[2]
On 17 December 1745 he matriculated at Queen's College, Oxford, earning a B.A. in 1749 and an M.A. in 1752 (Foster, Alumni Oxon. 1715–1886, ii. 608). While residing at Oxford he joined an amateur musical society, established by Dr. William Hayes (1708–1777) to which those only were admitted who were able to play and sing at sight.[2]
Career[]
Abandoning his intention of taking orders, Harington commenced the study of medicine, and in 1753 established himself as a physician at Wells. He accumulated his degrees in medicine in 1762. In 1771 he moved to Bath, where he devoted his leisure to composition, 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 the office of mayor. Harington died on 15 Jan. 1816, and was buried in Bath Abbey. He had 2 sons by his wife, Miss Musgrave —Sir Edward Harington and Henry Harington, D.D.[2]
Writing[]
He published: 1. 'A Favourite Collection of Songs, Glees, Elegies, and Canons.' 2. 'A second Collection of Songs, Glees, Elegies, Canons, and Catches.' 3. 'A third Collection of Trios, Duetts, single Songs, Rotas,' 4. 'Songs, Duetts, and other Compositions ... never before published,' 1800, edited by his daughter Susanna Isabella Thomas. These had been preceded by several compositions issued separately, such as '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' (glee).[2]
Harington's compositions, whether sacred or humorous, are remarkably pleasing. His round, 'How great is the pleasure,' and duet, 'How sweet in the woodlands,' were once very popular.[2]
He was also the author of: 1. 'Ode to Harmony.' 2. 'Ode to Discord.' 3. 'The Witch of Wokey.' 4. 'A Treatise on the Use and Abuse of Musick.' 5. 'The Geometrical Analogy of the Doctrine of the Trinity consonant to Human Reason,' 1806.[2]
Recognition[]
His poem "Slander; or, The witch of Wokey" was included in Pearch's Collection of Poems in Four Volumes; by several hands.[1]
The Witch of Wookey Hole aka the Witch of Wokey by Dr Henry Harington
See also[]
References[]
Goodwin, Gordon (1890) "Harington, Henry (1727-1816)" in Stephen, Leslie; Lee, Sidney Dictionary of National Biography 24 London: Smith, Elder, p. 384 . Wikisource, Web, June 16, 2020.
Notes[]
External links[]
- Poems
- Dr. Henry Harington at the Eighteenth-Century Poetry Archive *("Slander; or, The witch of Wokey")
- About
- Henry Harington at Hymntime
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain, the Dictionary of National Biography (edited by Leslie Stephen & Sidney Lee). London: Smith, Elder, 1885-1900. Original article is at: Harington, Henry (1727-1816)