His best known work, Grand Overture of Quebec, was written in honour of Lady Mary Lennox, the daughter of the Duke of Richmond.
It was first performed by the British Army's 60th Foot Regiment band on the occasion of the Duke of Richmond's visit to the Government House in Quebec City in February 1819.
Trained as a musician in his native country, he joined the British Army's 70th Foot Regiment band with whom he traveled to Quebec City in 1813.
After serving in the band in Upper Canada for five years, he resigned from his position in 1818 to become a music teacher in Quebec City where he gave instruction on the piano among other instruments.
[1] His granddaughter, Marie-Josephine Sydney, was married to politician Henry Stanislas Harwood, and his great-grandson was the well known Canadian gynecologist Louis de Lotbiniere-Harwood.