Reinagle

Biography

Reinagle, associated early on with the piano trade established by Taws, went on to become a prominent figure in Philadelphia musical life, serving as musical director and subsequently as manager of the Philadelphia Theatre. While pursuing this theatrical career he retained a financial interest in Taws's piano business. His son, Hugh Reinagle, was noted very early for his musical precocity, but died suddenly of yellow fever in New Orleans in 1820. Reinagle was associated with the Philadelphia Theatre as a director and manager and, according to stage annals, also held an interest in musical instrument manufacturing, having a share in a Philadelphia instrument-making business after 1800. In 1801 he traveled to New York with Charles Taws, the Philadelphia instrument expert, to inspect Joseph Corré's architectural plans for rebuilding the Mount Vernon Gardens playhouse.

Highlights

• Director and manager of the Philadelphia Theatre who also held a share in a Philadelphia musical instrument-making business after 1800.
• Traveled with Charles Taws to New York in 1801 to inspect Joseph Corré's acoustic and architectural plans.
• Became prominent in Philadelphia as musical director and later manager of the Philadelphia Theatre.
• Held a financial interest in the piano business established by Taws.
• His son Hugh Reinagle showed early musical precocity but died young.

Source

Daniel Spillane, History of the American Pianoforte (1890), pp. 79, 99.

Public domain.