Composer, born in Exeter, Devon, SW England, UK. Collaborating with James Shirley on the masque Cupid and Death, he won a reputation as a theatre composer. After composing the music for Charles II's coronation procession, he became composer-in-ordinary to the king. A champion of the "modern' French style of composition, his works include much incidental music for plays, Latin church music, songs, and chamber works. He also wrote part of The Siege of Rhodes (1656), the first English opera.