Francis Hughes

Francis Hughes, well known opera singer of his day, was buried on 21 March 1744 in the west cloister of Westminster Abbey but has no marker. He sang a role in the first all-sung English opera and worked at Drury Lane and other venues. From 1708 he was a countertenor in the choir of the Chapel Royal and later sang in the choir of St Paul's Cathedral. In 1715 he joined the Westminster Abbey choir as a Lay Vicar and served until his death. Handel wrote anthems for him. His will mentions Theophilus Hughes and daughters of his sister Margaret (Vaughan) and a nephew William Hughes.

Further reading

Oxford Dictionary of National Biography 2004