Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Singleton, Robert Corbet
SINGLETON, ROBERT CORBET (1810–1881), hymn-writer, was the second son of Francis Corbet of Aclaro, co. Meath, and was born on 9 Oct. 1810. His father added Singleton to his name in 1820. After a course of education at Dublin schools the younger Singleton entered Trinity College, where he graduated B.A. in 1830 and M.A. in 1833. After his ordination he was appointed first warden of St. Columbe's College, Rathfarnham, near Dublin, which was opened in 1843; thence he proceeded to St. Peter's College, Radley, of which he was the first warden (1847–1851), being succeeded by William Sewell [q. v.] In the former year he was admitted ad eundem to Trinity College, Oxford. His first work was 'The Psalter arranged for Chanting,' 1846, and this was followed by an English version of 'The Works of Virgil,' 1855. In 1868 he edited, in conjunction with Dr. E. G. Monk, 'The Anglican Hymn-Book' (2nd edit. 1871), in which there are nearly thirty original hymns by him, besides numerous translations from the German and Latin. A second edition of his translation of Virgil appeared in 1871. He died at York on 7 Feb. 1881, and was buried on the 12th in St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin.
[Julian's Dict, of Hymnology; Foster's Alumni Oxon. 1715-1886; O'Donoghue's Posts of Ireland; Leeper's Handbook to St. Patrick's Cathedral.]