A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Westmoreland, John

by William Henry Husk

WESTMORELAND, John Fane, eleventh Earl of (of the creation of 1624)—better known in the musical world by the courtesy title of Lord Burghersh, which he bore before his succession to the earldom—was born Feb. 3, 1784. He entered the army and served in the various campaigns from 1805 to 1815, and was subsequently envoy at Florence, and ambassador successively at Berlin and Vienna. His love for music manifested itself in early youth, and he became a good violinist. Whilst a student at Cambridge he obtained instruction from Dr. Hague, the University professor; he also studied under Zeidler at Berlin and Mayseder at Vienna. He essayed composition, and produced 6 Italian operas, 'Bajazet,' 'Il Torneo,' 'Fedra,' 'L'Eroe di Lancastro,' 'Il Ratto di Proserpina,' and 'Lo Scompiglio teatrale'; an English opera, 'Catherine'—a re-setting of Cobb's 'Siege of Belgrade'; a Grand Mass, a Service, a Magnificat, and two anthems, besides hymns, madrigals, songs, duets, etc., etc. In 1817 he was one of the unsuccessful competitors for the prize offered for the best setting of William Linley's Ode on the death of Samuel Webbe. His real claim to distinction, however, is not his musicianship, but the energy, perseverance and success with which he advocated, and ultimately succeeded in procuring, the establishment of an Academy of Music in London, and the zeal with which, as its President, he strove at all times to advance its interests. [See Royal Academy of Music.] In 1832 he was appointed a Director of the Concert of Antient Music. He succeeded to the earldom on the death of his father, Dec. 15, 1844, and died Oct. 16, 1859.

[ W. H. H. ]