George E. Blake

The title page of Blake's Collection of Duetts for Two Flutes, Clarinets, or Violins published by Blake in Philadelphia circa 1807. The engraving features one of Benjamin Latrobe's waterworks buildings in Philadelphia's Center Square.

George E. Blake (17 August 1774 in England – 23 February 1871 in Philadelphia) was an American music engraver and publisher. He was born in Yorkshire, England and, according to his obituary in the Philadelphia Evening Telegraph, emigrated to the United States when he was sixteen.[1] Other sources disagree on the exact year he arrived in America.[2] What is clear though is that by 1793, he began teaching the flute and the clarinet in Philadelphia, operating out of a room above the shop of music publisher John Aitken on South Third Street. During this period, the city was being ravaged by an outbreak of yellow fever. Unlike many others, Blake chose to stay instead of fleeing the city.[3] He remained in Philadelphia for the rest of his long life.

  1. ^ Quoted in Bewley.
  2. ^ Metcalf (172) states that he arrived in 1793, while Krummel puts the date at "before 1793".
  3. ^ Metcalf 172.

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