A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Carter, Thomas

CARTER, Thomas, born in Dublin about 1735, at an early age displayed a capacity for music, and was sent, under the auspices of the Earl of Inchiquin, to Italy for study. [App. p.581 adds that "he was organist of St. Werbergh's in Dublin from 1751 to 1769."] He afterwards went to India and undertook the direction of the music at the Calcutta Theatre, but the climate proving injurious to his health, he returned to England and appeared as a dramatic composer [App. p.581 omits this sentence "since it probably refers to another Thomas Carter, who died Nov. 8, 1800, aged 32, of liver complaint (Gent. Mag.) A third of the same name was a musician in Dublin and was living at the beginning of the present century. (Dict, of Nat. Biog.) The composer of the operas, etc., died Oct. 16 (not 12), 1804, aged (according to the Sun newspaper) 60. W. Hawes, who remembered him well, told the late T. Oliphant that this Carter had never been to India."]. He furnished Drury Lane Theatre with music for 'The Rival Candidates' (1775), 'The Milesians' (1777), and the 'Fair American' (1782). In 1787 he became musical director of the Royalty Theatre, Goodman's Fields, then opened under the management of John Palmer, and produced there 'The Birth-day' and 'The Constant Maid,' besides songs and catches. In 1792 he composed the comic opera 'Just in Time,' for Covent Garden Theatre. He published many concertos and lessons for the pianoforte, but he is now best known as the composer of Bishop Percy's ballad, 'Nanny, wilt thou gang wi me?' and the naval song 'Stand to your guns.' Carter's life was passed in a constant succession of embarrassments, consequent upon his incorrigible carelessness and improvidence. He died Oct. 12, 1804.

[ W. H. H. ]