Giacobbe Cervetto

According to the Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani, little is known about his early life but he is thought to have been born in northern Italy.

[3] He first arrived in England in 1728, originally as a vendor of fine stringed instruments including violins of Stradivarius.

"[5] Burney further wrote of Cervetto "He was an honest Hebrew, had the largest nose, and wore the finest diamond ring on the forefinger of his bow hand", but considered him an indifferent performer.

[4] The Gentleman's Magazine, in an obituary of his son James Cervetto (1747–1837, also a cellist and composer for his instrument), noted that the audience in Covent Garden would often shout to the elder Cervetto " 'play up, Nosey'....Hence the origin of a phrase not infrequently heard at the theatre even to the present day".

His will, in which he left his son the substantial fortune of £20,000, stipulated that he should be buried according to the rites of the Church of England.