Scottish composer and concert singer. Gentleman of the Chapel Royal from at least 1679. Musician in Ordinary to the King's "Private Musick" from at least 1685. He was in service to the Exiled Stuart Court at Saint-Germain from about 1689 through 1697. He returned to England at the turn of the century and from 1699 through 1702 was under contract to Drury Lane Theater in London. From 1702 through 1704 he served the Duke of Ormonde in Ireland, and thereafter toured as a concert singer into at least the second decade of the eighteenth century. He published in 1701 A Collection of Songs in Several Languages, distinguished more for their patriotic fervor than musical excellence. He also published A Collection of Songs in English in the same year, and A Choice Collection of Italian Ayres in 1703. The English songs also showed Italian influence, not only by reason of the da capo form of some of the songs, but also in the rhythmic and motivic character of the vocal line.