A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Hutcheson, Francis

HUTCHINSON, Francis, an amateur composer, who, under the pseudonym of Francis Ireland, produced in the latter half of the 18th century many vocal compositions of considerable merit. The Catch Club awarded him three prizes, viz. in 1771 for his catch 'As Colin one evening'; in 1772 for his cheerful glee 'Jolly Bacchus'; and in 1773 for his serious glee 'Where weeping yews.' 11 glees and 8 catches by him are printed in Warren's collections. His beautiful madrigal, 'Return, return, my lovely maid,' is universally admired. He is sometimes styled 'Dr.' Hutchinson, but he does not appear to have graduated in any faculty. He may possibly have been a medical practitioner, to whom the term 'Dr.' was popularly applied.

[App. p.684 "Correct name throughout to Hutcheson, and for last two sentences of article read as follows:—He was the only son of Professor Hutcheson of Glasgow, who was well known in connection with the study of ethical philosophy; he had taken a Scottish degree in medicine before 1762, when he took the degree of M.D. at Trinity College, Dublin. As early as 1750 he had published a medical work at Glasgow. In the roll of Graduates the following entry occurs: 'Francis Hutcheson (or Hutchisson), B.A. 1745, M.A. 1748, M.D. 1762.' He adopted the pseudonym of Francis Ireland, fearing to injure his professional prospects by being known as a composer."]

[ W. H. H. ]