George Alexander Osborne

George Alexander Osborne (24 September 1806 – 16 November 1893) was an Irish composer and pianist. Biography Osborne was born in Limerick. His father, also George, was a music teacher and organist in St Mary’s cathedral. Young George joined him in that profession, becoming organist in St John’s Church, John St. He left Ireland at the age of eighteen for Brussels, where he was appointed music instructor for the eldest son of the Dutch king, and became friends with Charles de Bériot. With de Bériot he was later to compose more than 30 duos for violin and piano, which enjoyed great popularity. In 1830 he fought for the royalists in the Belgian revolution, and after his capture and release he moved to Paris. Here he studied under Johann Peter Pixis, François-Joseph Fétis and Friedrich Kalkbrenner and became friendly with some of the leading musicians of his time including Berlioz and Chopin. In 1843, Osborne settled permanently in London, although he maintained a home in Paris until c.1848, when he encouraged a nervous Chopin during the latter’s tour of England in 1848. and conducted the Amateur Musical Society (from 1852). Osborne died at his home in Regent’s Park, London, at the age