Thompson / Corporaal Family History

William Michael Rooke ¹

   Another name for William was William Michael Rooke.

  Burial Notes:

Plot 2660 (Findagrave memorial ID 65813216)

  Some of his life's milestones were:

He had their marriage banns published on Sep 29, 1826 in St George, Hanover Square, London, England. ²

He was working as Professor of Music in London, Middlesex, England on Mar 1, 1837 ⁵

He was residing at 74 Norman St in London, Middlesex, England Mar 1, 1837 to Sep 11, 1840 ^{5 6}

He was residing at All Souls and Trinity subparish in Marylebone, London, England on Jun 6, 1841 ^{7 8}

He had an estate probated in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury on Apr 6, 1848 in London, Middlesex, England. ⁹

There is a story extracted from the Dictionary of National Biography
ROOKE, WILLIAM MICHAEL (1794-1847) musical composer, the son of (John Rourke; a tradesman, was born in Dublin on 29 Sept. 1794. In youth he joined an orchestral society, practiced the violin, and mastered a number of wind and stringed instruments; proficiency on the pianoforte he gained with greater difficulty. He also studied harmony. His first composition was a song, 'Fair one, take this Rose.' In 1813 Rourke, being freed by the death of his father from an uncongenial trade, adopted music as a profession, and modified his sur-name to Rooke. He earnestly applied himself^' to the violin, and studied counterpoint under Dr: Cogan. In 1817 he was appointed chorus-master and deputy leader at the Dublin Theatre Royal, Crow Street. A polacca of his composition, '0 Glory, in thy brightest hours', sung by Braham, was one of his earliest successes. Rooke's pupil Balfe, on his first appearance in May 1816 as a child violinist, won a triumph for his preceptor as well as for himself.
Rooke found it difficult to earn a livelihood in Ireland, and sought his fortune in London. In order to fit himself for the struggle, he read much English literature, and studied languages. In 1821 he is said to have obtained employment as director at the English opera, and later at Drury Lane. For many years he was one of the principal second violins at the Philharmonic and other concerts. He also took pupils for singing, among whom were Miss Fordo and William Harrison. Meanwhile he devoted his leisure to the com of an opera, 'Amilie,' which was produced at Covent Garden on 2 Dec.1837. This work gave evidence of powerful and original musical genius. Seldom before had an English composer so conspicuously satis at once both scientific and popular de mands. Yet Rooke failed to rise above the restrictions of the operatic system in vogue. The libretti were unworthy of musical setting, and scenes of dramatic action, in which foreigners would employ recitative, were left by English composers without musical acco m^-paniment. 'Amilie' had a long run, but ap parently brought small profit to the manager, Rooke's second venture, 'Henrique', played at Covent Garden on 2 May 1839 and re-ceived with favour, was withdrawn after five nights performance. ' Some complaint was made of the ill-treatment which all parties received from the management. The opera was not repeated, and other operas by Rooke, ' Cagliostro' and 'The Valkyrie', were never performed.
Rooke died, aged 53, after a long illness, at Claremont Cottage, St. John's, Fulham, on 14 Oct. 1847, and was buried at Brompton. He was survived by a wife and a large family.

[Memoir printed for private' circulation Grove's Diet. iii. 157 ; 'Musical World, 1837 iv: 203, 1839 ii. 19, 44, 1847 p. 672 ; Fitzball^'s Thirty-five Years of a Dramatic Autho r^'s Life; ii. 127; Bunn's The Stage, iii. 199.]
L. M. M.
{Source: Dictionary of National Biography, Volumes 1-22 Robinson - Sheares (Vol 17) P210
(https://www.Ancestry.com; Image 227 of 1428, accessed Sep 15, 2019)

William married Eleanor Blagg, daughter of William Blagg and Elizabeth Reah, on Sep 29, 1826 in St George, Hanover Square, London, England.^{1 2} (Eleanor Blagg was born on Sep 20, 1803 in Middlesex, England ¹, baptised on Sep 23, 1803 in St George, Hanover Square, London, England,¹⁰ died on Aug 2, 1886 in Regents Park, Middlesex, England ¹¹ and was buried on Aug 6, 1886 in Kensington and Chelsea, London, England ¹².)