The British Musical Biography

[E] Sinclair, John, tenor vocalist, was born
near Edinburgh, in 1790. He became a
clarinet player i>i the band of Campbell of
Shawfield's Regiment, and afterwards a
teacher of music in Aberdeen. First appear-
ance as a singer in London at Haymarket
Theatre, as Cheerly in "Lock and Key," 1880.
He studied singing for a time under Thomas
Welsh. Engaged for Covent Garden Theatre,
and appeared in Linlej-'s '' Duenna," 1811.
Married Miss Norton, daughter of Captain
Norton, 1816. Appeared in London, and in
English Provinces till 1819 ; when he visited
Paris, and studied for a time under Pellegrini,
and under Banderali at Lilian. Visited
Rossini at Naples, 1821. Sang in Pisa, Bologna
(where he was nrade a member of the Phil-
harmonic Academy), Modena, Florence,
Venice (where Rossini wrote for him the part
of Idreno in " Semiramide "), and Genoa,
1822-23. Re-appeared in London, Covent
Garden, November 19, 1823, and at other
theatres till 1830. Sang in America, and
appeared in opera, 1830, and retired soon
after. He died at Margate, September 23,
1857. Sinclair was one of the most popular
singers of his day, and was the creator of the
tenor roles in Bishop's "Guy Mannering,"
"The Slave," "Noble Outlaw," and Davy's
" Roy Roy." He composed the well-known
songs "Beneath the wave," " Betty Sands,"
" Dunbarton's bonnie dell," " Hey the bonnie
breast-knots" [1828], " The Mountain Maid"
[1830], "Come sit thee down," "Johnnie
Sands" [1830], and others in the Scots style.

entry id: 375-R-29