JACKSON, William, an English musician of repute, was born at Exeter, in 1730. His father, a grocer, bestowed a liberal education upon him; but, on account of the lad's strong predilection for music, was induced to place him under the care of the organist of Exeter Cathedral, with whom he remained about two years. He then went to London, and studied under John Travers, organist of the King's Chapel. Returning to Exeter, he settled there as a teacher and composer; and in 1777 was appointed subchanter, organist, lay-vicar, and master of the choristers of the cathedral. In 1775 he published his first work, Twelve Songs, which became at once highly popular. His next publication, Six Sonatas for the Harpsichord, was a failure. His third work, Six Elegies for three voices, preceded by an Invocation, with an Accompaniment, was very successful, and placed him among the first composers of his day. Dr Burney considered these as the best of Jackson's works, and added that "no composer copied less from others than Jackson." His fourth work was another set of Twelve Songs, now very scarce; and his seventh work was again a set of Twelve Songs, all of which are now forgotten. He next published Twelve Hymns, with some good remarks upon that style of composition, although his precepts were better than his practice. A set of Twelve Songs followed, containing some good compositions. Next came an Ode to Fancy, the words by Dr Warton. Twelve Canzonets for two voices formed his ninth work; and one of them—Time has not Thinned my Flowing Hair—was long sung at every public and private concert. His tenth work was Eight Sonatas for the Harpsichord, some of which were novel and pleasing. He composed three dramatic pieces, Lycidas, in 1767; The Lord of the Manor, in 1781; and The Metamorphoses, a comic opera, which did not succeed. In the second of these dramatic works, two airs—Encompassed in an Angel's Form, and When first this Humble Roof I knew—were great favourites, and are still admired. Some of his church-music, published after his death, did not please the critics. In 1782 he published Thirty Letters on Various Subjects, which are well written and interesting. In these he severely attacked canons, and described William Bird's Non nobis Domine as containing passages not to be endured. But his anger and contempt were most strongly expressed against catches of all kinds, and he denounced these as barbarous and shocking compositions. In 1791 he published a pamphlet, On the Present State of Music in London, in which he found fault with everything and everybody. It was a billious and jaundiced effusion. He published in 1798 The Four Ages, together with Essays on Various Subjects; a work which gives a favourable idea of his character and of his literary acquirements. It appears that he cultivated a taste for landscape-painting, and imitated, not unsuccessfully, the style of his friend Gainsborough. For many of his latter years Jackson suffered severely from asthma, which he tried to cure by low diet. Dropsy ensued, of which he died in 1803, leaving a widow, two sons, and a daughter. According to his friend General Burgoyne, Jackson's character was highly amiable. (G. P. O.)