William Ayrton (music critic) facts for kids

William Ayrton (born February 22, 1777 – died May 8, 1858) was an English manager for operas and a music critic. He was also a Fellow of the Royal Society and a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London.

Early Life and Family

William Ayrton was born in London. His family came from Yorkshire. His grandfather, Edward Ayrton, was the mayor of Ripon in 1760. This helped the family become well-known later on.

William Ayrton's Career

Opera Manager

In 1816, Ayrton traveled to Europe to find singers for the Italian opera at the King's Theatre in London. The next year, he was in charge of the opera shows. He brought the first-ever performance of Mozart's Don Giovanni to England. He also introduced famous singers like Giuditta Pasta and Gaetano Crivelli to English audiences.

Even though the opera season was successful, Ayrton had to leave his job as director. This was because of disagreements within the company. In 1821, he returned as musical director, but he had to resign again due to problems with a committee.

Writer and Critic

After leaving the opera, Ayrton focused on writing. From 1823 to 1833, he was the editor of a magazine called the Harmonicon. He also wrote many articles for it. He worked as a music and literature critic for two newspapers: the Morning Chronicle (from 1813 to 1826) and The Examiner (from 1837 to 1851).

In the mid-1830s, he published two important works. One was Sacred Minstrelsy (1834-1835). The other was the Musical Library (1834, 1835, and 1836). The Musical Library was an early collection of music that was affordable for many people.

Other Interests

William Ayrton was a member of several important groups. He was a Fellow of the Royal Society, which is a group for top scientists. He was also a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London, a group that studies history and old things. He was one of the first members of the Royal Institution and the Athenæum Club.

His Legacy

William Ayrton's personal papers and letters are now kept at the British Library. His son, William Scrope Ayrton, added notes to these materials. Later, some of the collection was sold, and some was given to the British Library by his great-granddaughter, Phyllis Alsager Ayrton.

Later Life

William Ayrton married Marianne Arnold on May 17, 1803. Marianne was the daughter of the composer Samuel Arnold. They had one son, who was also named William.

Ayrton passed away in Westminster on March 8, 1858. He is buried in the Kensal Green Cemetery in London.

Notable Family Members

William Ayrton had several interesting descendants:

William Scrope Ayrton (Senior)

William's son, William Scrope Ayrton (1804-1885), was a lawyer. He worked in courts dealing with bankruptcy in Leeds and London. He also wrote books about bankruptcy law. In addition, he served as a judge in Yorkshire.

William Scrope Ayrton (Junior)

William's grandson, William Scrope Ayrton (1849-1902), worked for the British government's Consular Service. He spent his whole career in China. He worked in places like Newchang, Wuhu, and Hangkow (Wuhan). From 1892 to 1896, he was the British Consul in Tamsui, on the island of Formosa. This was an important job when the First Sino-Japanese War started in 1894, and Japan took control of the island in 1895.

Edward Ayrton

William's great-grandson, Edward Ayrton (1882-1914), was a leading archaeologist.

Phyllis Alsager Ayrton

William's great-granddaughter, Phyllis Alsager Ayrton (1884-1975), was a women's suffragist. This means she worked to get women the right to vote. She joined the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU) in 1909. She also supported the Women's Party and campaigned for Christabel Pankhurst in the 1918 Election. This was the first election where women could run for office or vote.

Later, when the Second Sino-Japanese War began in 1937, Ayrton went back to Asia to help people who had been forced to leave their homes. She was in Hong Kong when Japan attacked in December 1941. She spent almost four years as a prisoner in Stanley Internment Camp. Even after this difficult experience, she lived to be over ninety years old.