A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Mornington, Garrett

MORNINGTON, Garrett Colley Wellesley, Earl of, Mus. Doc., born July 19, 1735, at Dangan, Ireland, displayed capacity for music at a very early age. Several interesting anecdotes of his early career are related by Daines Harrington (Miscellanies, 1781). With little or no assistance from masters he learned to play on the violin and organ and to compose, and when, with the view of improving himself in composition, he consulted Roseingrave and Geminiani, they informed him that he already knew all they could teach him. The University of Dublin conferred on him the degree of Mus. Doc., and elected him professor of that faculty. [App. p.720 "Add date of his election to the professorship, 1764, and that he held it till 1774."] In 1758 he succeeded his father, who in 1746 had been created Baron Mornington, and in 1760 he was created Viscount Wellesley and Earl of Mornington. His compositions are chiefly vocal; some are for the church, copies of which are said to exist in the choir books of St. Patrick's cathedral, Dublin. His chant in E is universally known. But it was as a glee composer that he excelled. He gained prizes from the Catch Club in 1776 and 1777 for two catches, and in 1779 for his popular glee 'Here in cool grot.' He published a collection of 'Six Glees,' and John Sale included three others in a collection with three of his own. Nine glees, three madrigals, an ode, and ten catches by him are contained in Warren's collections, and several glees in Horsley's 'Vocal Harmony.' A complete collection of his glees and madrigals, edited by Sir H. R. Bishop, was published in 1846. He died May 22, 1781. Three of his sons attained remarkable distinction, viz. Richard, Marquis Wellesley; Arthur, Duke of Wellington; and Henry, Lord Cowley.

[ W. H. H. ]