William Crotch

A child prodigy, the English composer and organist William Crotch was born 5 July in Norwich in 1775. He played the organ from 4, wrote an oratorio at 14, and the following year became organist at Christchurch Cathedral, Oxford. He composed prolifically and was the first Principal of the Royal Academy of Music in London. He died in Taunton on 29 December 1847.