Croft

Croft, WILLIAM, musician, born in Warwickshire in 1677, was a chorister in the Chapel Royal, of which he became joint-organist in 1704, and sole organist in 1707. In 1708 he succeeded his old teacher, Dr Blow (q.v.), as organist of Westminster Abbey and choirmaster of the Chapel Royal; and in 1713 he took the degree of Mus. Doc. at Oxford. From 1704 Croft wrote a number of anthems for state ceremonies and public thanksgivings, thirty of which appeared in two folio volumes in 1724; and it is by these that he is now chiefly remembered. He died in 1727.