A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Knight, Joseph
KNIGHT, Joseph Philip, youngest son of the Rev. Francis Knight, D.D., was born at the Vicarage, Bradford-on-Avon, July 26, 1812. His love for music began early, and at 16 he studied harmony and thorough bass under Mr. Corfe, then organist of Bristol Cathedral. When about 20 Mr. Knight composed his first six songs, under the name of 'Philip Mortimer.' Among these were 'Old Times,' sung by Henry Phillips, and 'Go, forget me,' which was much sung both here and in Germany. After this he used his own name, and in company with Haynes Bayly produced a number of highly popular songs, among which the most famous were 'Of what is the old man thinking?' 'The Veteran,' 'The Grecian Daughter,' and 'She wore a wreath of roses.' He subsequently composed a song and a duet to words written for him by Thomas Moore—'The parting,' and 'Let's take this world as some wide scene.' In 1839 Mr. Knight visited the United States, where he remained two years. To this time are due among other popular songs the once well-known 'Rocked in the cradle of the deep,' sung with immense success by Braham, and 'Why chime the bells so merrily.' On his return to England he produced 'Beautiful Venice,' 'Say what shall my song be to-night,' and 'The Dream,' words by the Hon. Mrs. Norton—all more or less the rage in their day. Some years afterwards Mr. Knight was ordained by the late Bp. of Exeter to the charge of St. Agnes in the Scilly Isles, where he resided two years. He then married and lived for some time abroad, doing very little in the way of composition, but on his return to England he again took up his pen, and wrote among others 'Peace, it is I!' 'The lost Rose,' 'The Watchman,' 'The Anchor,' and 'Queen of the silver bow,' all of which have enjoyed great popularity. His songs, duets, and trios, number in all not less than two hundred. He is a good organist, with an unusual gift for extemporising. [App. p.692 "Add that his last composition was a setting of Byron's 'Jephthah's Daughter,' and that he died at Yarmouth June 1, 1887."]
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