Mary Ann Paton

Mary Ann Paton (October 1802 – 21 July 1864), also known by married names including Mary Ann Wood, was a Scottish vocalist.

Early life The eldest daughter of George Paton, a writing-master at Edinburgh and amateur violin, and his wife, née Crawford, was born in Edinburgh in October 1802. She and her sisters received a good musical training: they were singers also, Isabella making her début at Mary Ann's benefit at Covent Garden Theatre, 1824, as Letitia Hardy, and Eliza sing at the Haymarket Theatre in 1833.

Mary Ann, aged eight, appeared at public concerts as a singer, performer on the harp and pianoforte (Giovanni Battista Viotti's concerto in G), and recited William Collins's Ode to the Passions and Alexander's Feast. The family settled in London in 1811, and she gave some concerts; but then took a break from performing. She had instrumental lessons from Samuel Webbe the younger, and after six years, began a career as a vocalist, appearing in 1820 at Bath, and in 1821 at Huntingdon. As a prima donna, she was largely responsible for the success of a number of adaptations of Rossini's operas in London during 1829–1830.

In 1831 Paton was engaged at the King's Theatre, where she sang in La Cenerentola and other Italian operas. Returning to Drury Lane, she took the part in 1832 of Alice in Robert le diable, arranged by Henry Bishop. in Yorkshire, and it was there that Mary Ann Wood died, on 21 July 1864, aged 62.