A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Thirlwall, John
THIRLWALL, John Wade, born Jan. 11, 1809, at a Northumbrian village named Shilbottle, was the son of an engineer who had been the playmate of George Stephenson. He appeared in public before he was 8 years old, at the Newcastle Theatre, afterwards became music director at the Durham Theatre, and was engaged by the Duke of Northumberland to collect Northumbrian airs. He subsequently came to London, was employed in the Opera band, and was music director at Drury Lane, the Haymarket, Olympic, and Adelphi Theatres successively. After the death of Nadaud in 1864 he was appointed conductor of the ballet music at the Royal Italian Opera. In 1843 he composed the music for 'A Book of Ballads,' one of which, 'The Sunny Days of Childhood,' was very popular; also many songs, violin solos, and instrumental trios. He was for some time music critic to the 'Pictorial Times,' 'Literary Gazette,' and 'Court Circular.' Besides music he cultivated poetry and painting, and in 1872 published a volume of poems. He died June 15, 1875.
His daughter and pupil, Annie, a soprano singer, first appeared at the National Concerts, Exeter Hall, in 1855. On Feb. 4, 1856, she first performed on the stage at the Strand Theatre, whence she removed to the Olympic, Oct. 12, 1856. In Oct. 1859 she joined the Pyne and Harrison company at Covent Garden. A few years afterwards she became the leading member of an English-Opera company which performed in the provinces, and retired in 1876.