Henry Fothergill Chorley, an English musical critic and author, born near Billinge, Lancashire, Dec. 15,1808, died in London, Feb. 10, 1872, In his boyhood he entered a mercantile establishment in Liverpool, but soon went to London to try a literary life. He had acquired a slight knowledge of music from Zengheer Hermann, the conductor of the Liverpool philharmonic society, and after a hard struggle attracted the notice of the editors of the " Athenaeum," who gave him a position on that journal, of which he conducted the musical department for 35 years, with an honesty and candor never impeached even by those who differed with his judgment. When Gounod vainly sought a hearing in London, Chorley pleaded his merits so persistently that the composer was given a trial, and "Faust" met with a splendid success. During his long connection with the "Athenamm" Chorley found time to do much other literary work. Besides his books, he wrote a number of operatic librettos; among which were the "Amber Witch," for Wallace's music; the "May Queen," set by Sir Sterndale Bennett; "St. Cecilia," set by Sir Julius Benedict; "Kenilworth" and the "Sapphire Necklace," written for Arthur Sullivan; and "Faust" translated from and adapted to the music of the French score. His songs, which are numerous, all exhibit culture and refinement.

In his translations he was generally remarkable for original treatment rather than fidelity. A short time before his death he nominally closed his connection with the "Athenaeum," but continued to write for it occasionally. His principal published works are: "Conti the Discarded, and other Tales" (3 vols., 1835); "Sketches of a Seaport Town," a novel (3 vols., 1835); "Memorials of Mrs. Hemans" (2 vols., 1830); " Lion, a Tale of the Coteries" (3 vols., 1839); "Music and Manners in France and Germany " (3 vols., 1841); "Pomfret, a Novel" (3 vols., 1845); "Criticisms on Modern German Music" (2 vols., 1854); and "Thirty Years' Musical Recollections" (2 vols., 1862). - Mr. Chorley's "Autobiography, Memoirs, and Letters," compiled by II. G. Hewlett, was published in 1873 (3 vols., London).