A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Parsons, William
PARSONS, Sir William, Knt., Mus. Doc., born 1746, was a chorister of Westminster Abbey under Dr. Cooke. In 1768 he went to Italy to complete his musical education. On the death of Stanley in 1786 he was appointed master of the King's band of music. On June 26, 1790, he accumulated the degrees of Mus. Bac. and Mus. Doc. at Oxford. In 1795, being in Dublin, he was knighted by the Lord Lieutenant, Earl Camden. In 1796 he was appointed musical instructor to the Princesses and a magistrate for Middlesex, in which latter capacity he acted for several years at the police office in Great Marlborough Street. He died July 17, 1817.
[ W. H. H. ]