Dibdin. I. Charles, an English song writer and composer, born in Southampton in 1745, died July 25, 1814. He was the 18th child of his parents, who intended him for the church; but he studied music, and at the age of 16 went to London, where he at first supported himself by composing ballads for the music sellers and by tuning pianos. In 1763-'4 the opera of "The Shepherd's Artifice," written and composed by him, was produced at Covent Garden theatre, after which he appeared for several years as actor and composer. Among his most popular works were "The Padlock," "The Deserter," "The Waterman," and "The Quaker," produced at Drury Lane under the management of Garrick. Having quarrelled with the latter, he was for several years engaged in various theatrical speculations, and in 1789 instituted a species of musical entertainment, in which he was the sole author, composer, and performer. He called it "The Whim of the Moment." So successful did the enterprise prove, that in 1796 he erected a small theatre in Leicester fields, called Sans-Souci, in which he performed till 1805, when he retired from professional life.

A pension of £200 was procured for him, of which in 180G he was deprived by the whig ministry of Lord Grenville. The tory administration, which came into power the succeeding year, restored his name to the pension list, but his improvidence kept him in poverty until his death.' His theatrical compositions, 47 of which are enumerated in the "Biographia Dramatica," amount to about 100. But his reputation rests mainly upon his songs, of which he wrote 900, or as some say 1,200. His nautical songs and ballads are among the finest in the language; and some of them, like "Poor Tom Bowling," written on the death of his brother Thomas, a sea captain, and "Poor Jack," are established favorites. They were set to simple and expressive melodies, and were exceedingly popular at the beginning of the present century. He published "A Complete History of the Stage " (5 vols. 8vo, 1795), an autobiography prefixed to a collection of his songs (4 vols. 8vo, 1803), and some miscellaneous works of no great value. A new edition of his songs, with a memoir by his son Thomas, illustrated by George Cruik-shank, was published in London in 1850. II. Thomas, son of the preceding, born in London in 1771, died there, Sept. 16, 1841. He adopted the profession of his father, and for many years appeared before the public as actor, author, and composer.

His songs and dramatic pieces are probably as numerous as those of his father, but are now comparatively forgotten. He published a "Metrical History of England" (2 vols. 8vo, 1813), and "Reminiscences" (2 vols., 1828). He died in poverty, while employed in compiling an edition of his fathers sea songs, for which he received an allowance from the lords of the admiralty. III. Thomas Frognall, an English bibliographer, nephew of Charles Dibdin, born in Calcutta in 1776, died Nov. 18, 1847. He was educated at Oxford and studied law, but afterward took orders, and received the degree of doctor of divinity. In 1807 he became editor of a weekly journal called "The Director," and in 1809 published in the form of a dialogue his "Bibliomania," reprinted with great enlargements in 1811 (new ed., enlarged, 2 vols, royal 8vo, 1842). In 1818 he travelled abroad, and in 1824 was appointed rector of St. Mary's, Bryanstone square, which post he held until his death. In 1814-15 he published, under the title of "Bibliotheca Spenceriana," an account of the rare books in Earl Spencer's library, to which he afterward added a description of the earl's seat at Althorp, and an account of the Cassano library purchased by him, the whole in 7 vols. 8vo. His principal works besides those above mentioned are : "Introduction to a Knowledge of rare and valuable Editions of the Greek and Roman Classics" (1802; 4th ed., entirely rewritten, 2 vols. 8vo, 1827); "Typographical Antiquities of Great Britain" (4 vols., 1810- '19); "Bibliographical Decameron" (3 vols., 1817); "Bibliographical, Antiquarian, and Picturesque Tour in France and Germany" (3 vols., 1821); "Reminiscences of a Literary Life" (2 vols., 1836); "Bibliographical, Antiquarian, and Picturesque Tour in the Northern Counties of England and Scotland" (3 vols., 1838).