The New International Encyclopædia/Grove, George

GROVE, Sir George (1820-1900). An English engineer and musical critic, born at Clapham. After studying at the grammar school there he was articled to Alexander Gordon; worked at Napier's factory in Glasgow; was employed in the building of Morant Point Lighthouse in Jamaica (1841), and of Gibb's Hill Light in Bermuda (1845); and then worked on the Britannia Tubular Bridge over Menai Strait. In 1850 he was secretary to the Society of Arts, but resigned this post (1852) to become secretary of the Crystal Palace. Here he first made an effort to educate English musical taste, especially for Beethoven and the Romantic German School. In 1867 he traveled to Vienna with Arthur Sullivan and discovered the part-books of Schubert's music to Rosamunde. His abilities as a critic of music brought him into connection with the Macmillans. He was editor of their magazine from 1868 to 1883, and of the valuable Dictionary of Music and Musicians (1879-89), and wrote Beethoven and His Nine Symphonies (1896). For twelve years he was director of the Royal College of Music. He was knighted in 1883 and made Commander of the Bath in 1894. His work in biblical geography was also important. He wrote many articles for Smith's Dictionary of the Bible (London, 1864); assisted Stanley in his Sinai and Palestine (New York, 1865); and was influential in the promotion of the Palestine Exploration Fund. Consult Graves, The Life of Sir George Grove (London, 1901).