Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Davies, Rowland (1740-1797)

by Thompson Cooper ‎

DAVIES, ROWLAND (1740–1797), musical composer, son of Rowland Davies and his wife Jane Nicholas, was born in London in May 1740. He was a pupil of Handel, under whom he made such progress that it is said he presided at the organ in Westminster Abbey at the coronation of George III. Soon afterwards he turned catholic and proceeded to Douay, where he took the college oath in 1765 and was ordained priest. On his return to England he was stationed first at Cliff, Yorkshire, next at Warwick Street, London, and finally at Bosworth Hall, the residence of Francis Turville. He died on 16 March 1797.

He set to music many masses, a ‘Te Deum,’ a ‘Magnificat,’ and ‘Responses for the Dead.’

[Kirk's MS. Biog, Collections, quoted in Gillow's Bibl. Dict.; Catholic Ann. Reg. (1850), 171.]

T. C.