Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Webbe, Samuel (1770?-1843)

747291Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Volume 60 — Webbe, Samuel (1770?-1843)1899Louisa M. Middleton

WEBBE, SAMUEL, the younger (1770?–1843), teacher and composer, the son of Samuel Webbe (1740–1816) [q. v.], was born in London about 1770, and studied the organ, piano, and vocal composition under his father and Clementi. Webbe in his active interest in the glee clubs followed in the footsteps of his father. He composed many excellent canons and glees, but in 1798 he settled in Liverpool, as organist to the unitarian chapel in Paradise Street. About 1817 he joined John Bernard Logier [q. v.] in London in teaching the use of the chiroplast. Webbe became organist to the chapel of the Spanish embassy, before returning to Liverpool, where he was appointed organist to St. Nicholas and to St. Patrick's Roman catholic chapel. He died at Hammersmith on 25 Nov. 1843. His son, Egerton Webbe (1810–1840), wrote upon musical subjects; his daughter married Edward Holmes [q. v.]

Webbe published, in conjunction with his father, ‘A Collection of Original Psalm Tunes,’ 1800. He was also the author of several anthems, madrigals, and glees, besides a Mass and a Sanctus, and a Chant for St. Paul's Cathedral. He wrote settings for numerous songs and ballads. About 1830 he published ‘Convito Armonico,’ a collection of madrigals, glees, duets, canons, and catches, by eminent composers.

[Brown and Stratton's British Musical Biography, p. 437; authorities cited.]

L. M. M.