Leveridge, Richard

1670-1758

English singer and composer; born in London. He sang at the Drury Lane Theatre for two years, 1705-1707, the next year at the Queen's Theatre, where he remained until 1712, after which he held a position at Lincoln's Inn Fields until 1732. He sang at Covent Garden until 1851. There was an interval in his singing when he opened a coffee-house in Tavistock Street, Covent Garden. The next year he published a collection of his songs with music, in two small volumes. Other of his songs were published singly, the best known of which are All in the Downs, and The Roast Beef of Old England. He died in London at an advanced age, having been supported in his old age by an annual subscription from among his friends.