Annotation:General Jackoo
GENERAL JACKOO. English, Country Dance (2/4 time). D Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABB. General Jackoo was a celebrated performing monkey of the London stage whose hey-day was in the mid-1780's, although he is mentioned as early as 1768. A bill for Astley's Ampitheatre of 1785 (now at the Huntingon Library) advertised:
General Jackoo, the celebrated Monkey from Paris, will, for the first time this season, change the whole of his dress in a surprising manner, and perform his war maneuvers, dance on the Tight Rope with fetters on his feet &c.
It was said that Jackoo could also smoke a cigar and juggle while dancing on a tightrope. Astley seemed to know a good thing, for Jackoo had a long-term engagement at his London Ampitheater, and also toured with Astley's Circus. In 1785 his act was a sensation in Paris, and he became renowned across the Continent.
"General Jackoo" was entered in the mid-19th century music manuscript of William Winter (1774-1861), a shoemaker and violin player who lived in West Bagborough in Somerset, southwest England.
