About John Danby
Lived 1757 – 1798 (aged 40–41). John Danby was a British composer.
The Burdett Coutts memorial, Old St Pancras. Danby's name is near the bottom
John Danby (1757 – 16 May 1798) was an English composer of glees, of which he wrote around 92, some of which were only published after his death. Among the most popular of his glees are Awake, AEolian lyre! and Let Gaiety Sparkle. He won 10 prizes for his compositions from the Catch Club between 1781 and 1794. He was a pupil of Samuel Webbe and a friend of Turner. For many years he was employed as the organist at the chapel of the Spanish Embassy in London. However near the end of his life he suffered from paralysis of the limbs.
He died at the age of 41 during a benefit concert which had been arranged for him by his friends. They used the money raised to erect a monument to him in the Old St. Pancras cemetery. The monument was lost or removed during the 19th century but his name is listed on the Burdett Coutts memorial in the graveyard, listing the eminent graves lost.
Don’t just read it —
keep it.
Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.
- E-book
- Audio
- Video
Instant download · yours to keep · every purchase keeps this site free
Important facts
People in John Danby's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped John Danby's
Frequently asked questions
Who was John Danby?
British composer
When was John Danby born?
John Danby was born in 1757.
When did John Danby die?
John Danby died on 16 May 1798.
What was John Danby's occupation?
John Danby was a composer.
What nationality was John Danby?
John Danby was British.
Sources & further reading
· DBpedia: John Danby (musician)
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). John Danby. https://biography.guide/john-danby-composer/
MLA: "John Danby." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/john-danby-composer/.
Chicago: "John Danby." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/john-danby-composer/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
Page generated 2026-09-27 05:06 UTC