| 2 min read

Thomas Augustine Arne was a prominent English composer of the 18th century, best known for his patriotic song "Rule, Britannia!" and his significant contributions to English theatre music, including operas, masques, and incidental music for plays.Born in London, Arne pursued music despite family objections. He achieved early success with his setting of "Rule, Britannia!" (1740) and the masque "Alfred".Arne became the leading native composer for the London stage, rivalling Handel in popularity...