About
Organist of the late Georgian period who was known as the English Mozart.
Before Fame
His conversion to Roman Catholicism in 1784 resulted in the mass Missa de spirtu sancto, which he dedicated to Pope Pius VI.
Trivia
He was appointed Grand Organist by the Duke of Sussex in 1812. He held the post until 1818.
Family Life
He was born into the famous Wesley family: his father was the Methodist hymn-writer Charles Wesley, his uncle was John Wesley, founder of the Methodist Church, and his grandfather was late Stuart-period poet Samuel Wesley. His son was cathedral organist Samuel Sebastian Wesley.
Associated With
He composed a five-part madrigal titled O singe unto mie roundelaie, which was based on the poem by Thomas Chatterton.
