John Abbey

John Abbey (22 December 1785 – 19 February 1859) (French: Jean Abbey) was an English organ builder, who built organs for the cathedrals of many French cities, as well as the organ at the Salle Le Peletier of the Paris Opera. Many French organ builders adopted his English bellows design.

Early life and career

Abbey was born at Whilton, a Northamptonshire village, on 22 December 1785. In 1826 Abbey went to Paris, on the invitation of Sébastien Érard, the celebrated harp and pianoforte maker, to work upon an organ which Érard had designed, and which he sent to the Exhibition of the Productions of National Industry in 1827, and also to build an organ for the Convent of the Legion of Honour, at St. Denis. He also built an organ from Érard's design for the chapel of the Tuileries, which, however, had only a short existence, being destroyed in the Revolution of 1830. His son John Albert Abbey and his grandson John Mary Abbey were also organ builders.