A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Beard, John

by William H. Husk

BEARD, JOHN, one of the most eminent of English tenor singers, born about 1717, was in his boyhood a chorister of the Chapel Royal under Bernard Gates. He first appeared as a tenor singer in Handel's performances at Covent Garden Theatre in 1736, singing in 'Alexander's Feast,' 'Acis and Galatea,' and 'Atalanta.' On Aug. 30, 1737, he appeared at Drury Lane Theatre as Sir John Loverule in Coffey's ballad opera 'The Devil to Pay,' and in the following season was regularly engaged there. In 1739 he married Lady Henrietta, the young widow of Lord Edward Herbert, and daughter of the Earl of Waldegrave, on which he retired for a short time from professional life. After fourteen years uninterrupted happiness, Lady Henrietta died in 1753, aged thirty-six. Beard performed at Drury Lane until 1743, after which he was engaged at Covent Garden until 1748; he then returned to Drury Lane, where he continued until 1759, in which year he married Charlotte, daughter of John Rich, proprietor of Covent Garden Theatre, and was again engaged at that house. Rich dying in 1761, Beard became, in right of his wife, proprietor and manager of the theatre, and so continued until an increasing deafness determined him to dispose of his interest in it and quit the stage. He took his leave of the public as Hawthorn in 'Love in a Village' May 23, 1767. After his retirement he resided at Hampton, where he died, Feb. 4, 1791, in his seventy-fourth year. His wife survived him until August 26, 1818, when she died at Hampton at the great age of ninety-two. Beard throughout life bore the reputation of being a highly honourable and upright man. To form an estimate of his abilities as a singer it is only necessary to remember that Handel composed for him the great tenor parts in 'Israel in Egypt,' 'Messiah,' 'Samson, 'Judas Maccabeus,' and ' Jephthah.'

[ W. H. H. ]