A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Stevenson, John

STEVENSON, Sir John Andrew, Knight, Mus. Doc., son of John Stevenson, a violinist in the State Band in Dublin, was born in Dublin about 1762. In 1773 he was admitted a chorister of St. Patrick's and Christ Church Cathedrals, Dublin, and continued so until 1779. He afterwards became a vicar choral of both cathedrals, and a member of the choir of Trinity College, Dublin. He composed new music to O'Keeffe's farces, 'The Son-in-Law' and 'The Agreeable Surprise,' to enable them to be performed in Dublin, and also composed for the Irish stage the operas of 'The Contract,' 1783; 'Love in a blaze,' 1800; 'The Patriot,' and 'The Burning of Moscow.' He obtained his Mus. Doc. degree at Dublin in 1791, and his knighthood from the Lord Lieutenant (Lord Hardwicke), in 1803. He composed some Services and Anthems (a collection of which he published, with his portrait prefixed, in 1825), 'Thanksgiving,' an oratorio, and numerous glees, duets, songs, etc. But the work by which he is best known is the symphonies and accompaniments to the collection of Irish Melodies, the words for which were written by Thomas Moore. He died Sept. 14, 1833.

[ W. H. H. ]