Callicott

Callicott, JOHN WALL, composer, was born at Kensington in 1766, and abandoning medicine for music, in 1785 was made Bachelor, in 1800 Doctor, of Music at Oxford. In 1806 he published his Musical Grammar; the year after, his mind gave way. He recovered in 1812, but only for four years, when he relapsed, and continued insane till his death near Bristol, 15th May 1821. He was one of the most eminent composers belonging to the British school of music, and especially celebrated for his glees. The best of these were published in 1824, with a memoir by his son-in-law, W. Horsley.—His brother, SIR AUGUSTUS WALL CALLCOTT, landscape-painter, was born at Kensington in 1779, and for six years was a chorister at Westminster. In 1799 he exhibited a portrait at the Academy, and from 1804 devoted himself to landscape-painting. He became an A.R.A. in 1806, an R.A. in 1810, was knighted in 1837, and died 25th November 1844. His landscapes are remarkable for their beauty, clear definition of objects, good drawing, and truthful natural colouring. See Dafforne's Pictures by Callicott (1875). His wife, Lady Maria Callicott (1785-1842), was author of Little Arthur's History of England, and fourteen less-known works.