John Bannister

John Bannister or Banester, musician, is buried in the west cloister of Westminster Abbey. A small black marble tablet is on the wall which reads:

Here lyeth ye body of Mr John Banester who departed this life ye 3d of October in ye yeare 1679

He is said to be the first Englishman to distinguish himself on the violin but was dismissed from the service of Charles II after making an impertinent remark about the appointment of French musicians to the royal band. His wife was Mary and their son John became an eminent violinist.