Robert Lucas Pearsall

PEARSALL, Robert Lucas (R. de L.). b. Clifton, Bristol, 14 March 1795, d. 5 August 1856. The prefix ‘de’ was never used by Pearsall and was added after his death by his daughter. His father, a wealthy army officer and amateur musician, died in 1813. At his mother’s wish he was trained for the Bar, and practised law in Bristol from 1821. In 1825 he suffered a slight stroke, and was advised to give up his profession and live abroad for his health. This allowed him to pursue his antiquarian and musical interests. At Mainz (1825–9) he studied composition with Joseph Panny and took up with the Cecilian movement, which advocated a return to the ‘purity’ of ancient church music. He lived at...