A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Bates, Joah

by William H. Husk

BATES, Joah, was born in 1740 [App. p.532 "Mar. 19, 1740–1"] at Halifax, where he received his early education under Dr. Ogden, and learned music from Hartley, organist of Rochdale. He subsequently removed to Manchester, where he studied organ-playing under Robert Wainwright, organist of the collegiate church, now the cathedral. He next removed to Eton and thence to Cambridge, where he became fellow and tutor of King's College. He then became private secretary to the Earl of Sandwich, first Lord of the Admiralty, and a well known musical amateur. About that time he conceived the plan of the Concert of Ancient Music which was established in 1776, Bates being appointed conductor. In 1780 he was appointed a commissioner of the Victualling Office, and married Miss Sarah Harrop, a pupil of Sacchini, and a favourite concert singer, who had studied under him the music of Handel and the elder masters. He next, in 1783, in conjunction with Viscount Fitzwilliam and Sir Watkin Williams Wynne, projected the Commemoration of Handel, which was carried into effect the following year, Bates officiating as conductor. He was afterwards appointed a commissioner of the Customs and a director of Greenwich Hospital. Having projected the Albion Mills, of the success of which he was so sanguine as to invest the whole of his own and his wife's fortunes in them, he was nearly ruined by their destruction by fire in 1791. In 1793 he resigned the conductorship of the Concert of Ancient Music. He died June 8, 1799. A fine painting of Joah Bates and his wife, by F. Coates, R. A., is in the possession of the Sacred Harmonic Society.

[ W. H. H. ]