Ayrton, Edmund (1734-1808)

English organist and composer. He studied with Nares at York Minster, became organist and choirmaster at Southwell Minster in 1754, vicar choral at St Paul's Cathedral in London in 1767, and lay clerk at Westminster Abbey in 1780. He was also Master of the Children at the Chapel Royal and composed services and anthems. His son William (1771-1858) was a founder of the Philharmonic Society, and as director at the King's Theatre staged the first Don Giovanni in Britain (1817).