    charles dibdin (before 4 march 1745 â 25 july 1814) was a british musician, songwriter, dramatist, novelist and actor. with over 600 songs to his name, for many of which he wrote both the lyrics and the music and performed them himself, he was in his time the most prolific english singer-songwriter. he is best known as the composer of the song "tom bowling", which often features at the last night of the proms. == life and career == === early life and early successes === the son of a silversmith,robert chambers' book of days. see c. dibdin, professional life of mr dibdin (1803), vol. 1 p. 15. he was privately baptised on 4 march 1745 in southampton and is often described as the youngest child of 18 born to a 50-year-old mother. his parents, intending him for the clergy, sent dibdin to winchester school, but his love of music soon diverted his thoughts from the clerical profession. he possessed 'a remarkable good voice' at a young age, and was in demand for concerts even as a boy. anthems were composed for him by mr. kent and his successor mr fussell, organists of winchester cathedral, where he was a chorister between 1756 and 1759. he went to london at the age of fifteen at his brother's invitation, and was first employed tuning harpsichords in a music warehouse in cheapside. through mr. berengerpresumably richard berenger, gentleman of the horse 1760â1782, to whom david garrick lent Â£280.10s.0d. in 1762, see the private correspondence of david garrick, vol 2 (henry colburn & richard bentley, london 1832), p. 297-98. he was introduced to john rich (of whom he became a favourite) and john beard, and, growing addicted to theatre-going,dibdin, professional life (1803), vol 1, pp. 19â22. he soon became a singing actor at theatre royal, covent garden. as his voice was not yet settled, rich thought he would become a bass, and marked out the pantomime roles of richard leveridge for him. dibdin held back from this path, but made the most of his introductions: when rich died in 1761 and beard succeeded him as manager and part-proprietor, fresh opportunities arose. with beard's encouragement dibdin wrote his first work, both words and music of the shepherd's artifice, an operetta in two acts, which was produced as charles's benefit at covent garden on 21 may 1762 and repeated in 1763.g. hogarth (ed.), the songs of charles dibdin, chronologically arranged, with notes historical, biographical and critical, with a memoir of the author, 2 vols. (g.h. davidson
1745_births 1814_deaths English_baritones English_composers People_from_Southampton