blackmore was born in greenock in scotland, the second of four children born to elizabeth mary "née" collier (1834–1922) and edward blackmore (1824–1900), a marine engineer. he attended fettes college in edinburgh, where he sang tenor solos beginning at age 14. encouraged by alexander potts, his headmaster, blackmore took singing lessons and hoped to make a career in opera by training in italy. blackmore's father, however, wanted him to follow a more secure profession, so he trained as a solicitor in cardiff. finding this career not to his liking, he gave up law and studied singing under signor caravoglia.