John Edward Pigot

Who was John Edward Pigot?

John Edward Pigot was an Irish music collector and lawyer.

Pigot was born in Kilworth, Co. Cork, the eldest son of Chief Baron David Richard Pigot. He became friendly with Thomas Davis of the Young Ireland movement. They published advertisements in The Nation asking those who had Irish tunes to send them in. This started the Pigot Collection. He studied for the Bar in London and while there met Patrick McDowel. He was an avid collector and gave Pigot many tunes which he added to among the Irish in London. He went to Bombay and practised at the Indian Bar returning to Ireland due to ill health in 1871. In all, Pigot collected over 2,000 airs. The collection was held by Dublin doctor Robert Lyons. Pigot's collection was included in the 1908 publication Old Irish Folk Music and Songs, by P.W. Joyce.