John Alcock was born around 1740, to Margaret Alcock,
née Beaumont (1711–1792), and
John Alcock (1715–1806), himself a famous composer and organist. He was born in
Plymouth,
Devon and baptised there on 28 January 1740. He learned to play the organ through his father's position as
organist and master of the choristers at
Lichfield Cathedral, working under him as a
chorister. By the age of twelve he was deputising for his father on occasion. and "Expressly Composed for the use of Country Choirs", stating his position as "Batchelor in Music and Organist of Walsall" on the title page. Those of Alcock's published works, noted by the
Dictionary of Composers for the Church in Great Britain and Ireland, are 'Arise, O Lord, and Lift Up' and 'The Lord is King'. ==References==