Samuel Linley was born when the family were living in Bath, Somerset, during 1760;^[2] he was baptised on 23 June that year.^[3] His first public performance was dancing the hornpipe for a production of King John in Bristol when he was six years old.^[2] He sang in his father's concerts during 1774 and 1775, and played the oboe, an instrument he was probably taught to play by William Herschel.^[2] In 1778 he became a midshipman on HMS Thunderer, aboard which he contracted the fever from which he died.^[4] The register of his burial is dated 6 December 1778.^[5]

Emma Hart, who went on to be Lady Hamilton, was employed by the Linley family as a maid servant;^[6] she nursed Linley during his illness but was distraught when he died, immediately leaving the house.^[2] Henry Angelo, one of the pallbearers, recalled in his memoirs that she said "no entreaties could prevail upon her to remain, not even a day."^[7]