He was educated chiefly at Archbishop Tenison's school in Castle Street, Leicester Square, and while there he wrote a tragedy which was privately played by his school-fellows, with the support of Edmund Kean, then a boy of their own age.
what a Pity, or the Dark Knight and the Fair Lady," was given at the English Opera House (for the benefit of John Pritt Harley); from this date almost every year witnessed the production of some piece or other from his pen.
[1] In February 1831, he took over the management of the theatre in Tottenham Street, which he called the Queen's Theatre, in honour of Queen Adelaide, and here he remained until July of the following year, producing, among numerous other works, a dramatic version of Handel's "Acis and Galatea," for which Cipriani Potter wrote additional accompaniments.
Macfarren seems to have laid special stress upon accuracy of detail and naturalness in staging the plays which he produced.
[1] Macfarren married, in August 1808, Elizabeth (born 20 January 1792), daughter of John Jackson, a bookbinder, of Glasgow, who had settled in London.