Thomas Linley the elder

Born in Badminton, Gloucestershire, Linley began his musical career after he moved to Bath at age 11 and became apprentice to the organist Thomas Chilcot.

As his children grew and he developed their musical talent, he drew an increasing amount of income from their concerts while also managing the assembly rooms in Bath.

Linley collaborated with his son Thomas in penning the comic opera The Duenna, with libretto by his son-in-law Richard Brinsley Sheridan.

[7] Music historian Charles Burney visited when the children were young and listened to them singing and playing instruments; he described the family as "a Nest of Nightingales".

[12] The family were well established in Bath and Linley worked as a music teacher; when Elizabeth was born in 1754 they were living in a house on Abbey Green.

[5] Linley's wife was frugal[13] but "her parsimony grew legendary"[3] when she was employed as a wardrobe mistress at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, after the family fortunes had prospered.

The early years of marriage saw Linley as the sole income producer for the family;[14] some of the older children, particularly Elizabeth and Mary, were sent to stay with relatives,[5] or perhaps boarding school.

[15] Linley was a tenor, an organist and harpsichordist[5] but at that time was generating his income mainly by teaching and his tuition skills were increasingly sought out;[5] Frances Sheridan was one of his pupils in 1763,[5] although she became better known as a playwright and novelist.

[27][c] At the time of Elizabeth's marriage to Richard Brinsley Sheridan on 13 April 1773[20] estimates appeared in the Bath Chronicle speculating Linley had earned almost £10,000[d] from her performances.

[7][28] Two years later, in June 1776, a partnership of his son-in-law, Richard Brinsley Sheridan, Doctor James Ford who was a court physician[29][f] and Linley purchased a half share of the theatre for a total of £35,000.

[3] The trio bought the remaining share after another two years paying David Garrick[3] a similar amount giving them complete ownership.