A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Griffin, Thomas

GRIFFIN, THOMAS, an organ builder, in 1741 erected an organ in St. Helen's, Bishopagate, and engaged 'to play himself or provide an organist.' He is said to have also built organs in other City churches. On Jan. 11, 1763 (being then a Common Councilman for Langbourn Ward and one of the Gresham Committee), he was appointed Professor of Music in Gresham College in the room of Charles Gardner, deceased. He seems to have been totally incapable of performing the duties of the office, since we learn from a contemporary newspaper that on Jan. 29, 1763, the day appointed for his first lecture, John Potter, who had acted as deputy to his predecessor, appeared to lecture for him, but the audience refused to hear him, and compelled him to retire; that on Feb. 12 following Griffin himself appeared, apologised for his absence on Jan. 29, which he assured the audience was owing solely to his not having had sufficient time to prepare a proper lecture, and then retired without saying more; and that he soon afterwards delivered a lecture, which lasted 11 minutes, in an almost inaudible tone of voice. He died in 1771. Hawkins asserts him to have been a barber. He was more probably of the Barber-Surgeons' Company.

[ W. H. H. ]