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William Hargreaves

1880 – 1941

English composer

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About William Hargreaves

Lived 1880 – 1941 (aged 60–61). William Hargreaves was a British composer and songwriter.

William Hargreaves (1880–1941) was a British composer, mainly of songs for the music hall. His most famous composition was '"Burlington Bertie from Bow" in 1916 but he also wrote "Delaney's Donkey", "I Know Where the Flies Go", "PC 49", "We All Went Marching Home Again", "They Built Piccadilly For Me" and "Give My Regards to Leicester Square".

Hargreaves is also sometimes credited with several songs for Billy Williams, including "Postcards" (1908); and "I Must Go Home Tonight" (1909).

His "It's The Old Army Game" was added to the originally American musical Poppy when it was performed in London stage in 1924.

He was married to the American singer and male impersonator Ella Shields from 1906 to 1923, when she was granted a divorce. Hargreaves wrote "Burlington Bertie from Bow" for Shields; an earlier song with a similar title had been sung by Vesta Tilley.

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Important facts

Born
1880
Birth century
Died
1941

People in William Hargreaves's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped William Hargreaves's

Frequently asked questions

Who was William Hargreaves?

English composer (1880–1941)

When was William Hargreaves born?

William Hargreaves was born in 1880.

When did William Hargreaves die?

William Hargreaves died in 1941.

What was William Hargreaves's occupation?

William Hargreaves was a composer and songwriter.

What nationality was William Hargreaves?

William Hargreaves was British.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: William Hargreaves

· Wikidata: Q8010876

· DBpedia: William Hargreaves

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). William Hargreaves. https://biography.guide/william-hargreaves/

MLA: "William Hargreaves." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/william-hargreaves/.

Chicago: "William Hargreaves." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/william-hargreaves/.

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