Composer, born in Halle, Germany. He was organist of Halle Cathedral at the age of 17, while also studying law, and worked as a violinist and keyboard player in the Hamburg opera orchestra (1703--6). In Italy (1706--10) he established a great reputation as a keyboard virtuoso, and had considerable success as an operatic composer. He was appointed in 1710 to the court of the Elector of Hanover (later George I of Great Britain). In 1720 he worked at the King's Theatre, London, where he produced a stream of operas, and then developed a new form, the English oratorio, which proved to be highly popular. After a stroke in 1737, he rallied, and afterwards wrote some of his most memorable work, such as Saul (1739), Israel in Egypt (1739), and Messiah (1742). His vast output included over 40 operas, about 20 oratorios, cantatas, sacred music, and orchestral, instrumental, and vocal works. He is buried in Poet's Corner, Westminster Abbey.