Thomas Augustine Arne

1710 – 1778

Thomas Augustine Arne, a British composer, is best known for his patriotic song Rule, Britannia. Arne also composed a version of God Save the King, which became the British national anthem. Arne was the most important British theatre composer of his time. He worked mostly at Drury Lane and Covent Garden. Arne composed over 90 stage works, including plays, masques, pantomimes, and opera. Arne was  the first composers to have successfully used the copyright law.