John Lenton

Who was John Lenton?

John Lenton was an English composer, violinist, and singer.

Scholars believe he may have been the John Linton baptized on 4 March 1657 at St Andrew, Holborn. Little is known about his early life. On 2 August 1681 he was appointed to King Charles II's famed troupe of 24 violinists to replace a member who had died; he served as a member of the troupe for the remainder of his life. Lenton played at the coronations of James II, William III, and Mary II. Besides performing, he also contributed to the royal court's repertoire, composing suites to celebrate William III's return to London around 1697 and to celebrate the new year of 1699. He juggled his demands with the King's Musick with duties at the Chapel Royal, of which he was appointed Extraordinary Gentleman on 10 November 1685 and Groom of the Vestry in 1708. Lenton found time outside royal service to compose at least 12 suites for plays produced between 1682 and 1705, mostly for Thomas Betterton's theatre company at Lincoln's Inn Fields.

Lenton's later life mostly consisted of editing, writing, and publishing. In 1692, he collaborated with his fellow court musician Thomas Tollett to publish A Consort of Musick of Three Parts.