Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Dupuis, Thomas Sanders
DUPUIS, THOMAS SANDERS (1733–1796), musician, was the third son of John Dupuis, a member of a Huguenot family who is said to have held some appointment at court. Dupuis was born 5 Nov. 1733, and was brought up as a chorister in the Chapel Royal under Bernard Gates and John Travers. On 3 Dec. 1758 he was elected a member of the Royal Society of Musicians. In 1773 (and probably earlier) he was organist of the Charlotte Street Chapel (now St. Peter's Chapel), near Buckingham Palace, and on the death of Boyce he was elected (24 March 1779) organist and composer to the Chapel Royal. On 26 June 1790 Dupuis accumulated the degrees of Mus.Bac. and Mus.Doc. at Oxford. In the same year he originated a sort of musical club, known as the Graduates' Meeting. He died at King's Row, Park Lane, 17 July 1796, and was buried in the west cloister of Westminster Abbey on the 24th. His wife, who predeceased him, was named Martha Skelton. They had three sons, Thomas Skelton (1766-1795), George (died an infant), and Charles (1770-1824). The arms on his monument in the abbey cloister arc. Or, an eagle rising from a mount ppr. impaling, for Skelton, az. on a fesse between three fleur-de-lis or, a Cornish chough sa. By the will of Bernard Gates Dupuis became entitled to an estate at North Aston, Oxfordshire. A collection of his cathedral music, in 3 vols., was published after his death by his pupil John Spencer. Prefixed to this work is a portrait. There is also an engraving by C. Turner, after Russell. He was an admirable organist.
[Misc. Geneal. et Herald. iii. 249; Gent. Mag. vol. lxvi. pt. ii. p. 621; Appendix to Bemrose's Choir Chant Book; Evans's Cat. of Engraved Portraits; Chester's Westminster Registers, pp. 418, 457; Addit. MSS. 27691, 27693; Cheque-Book of the Chapel Royal; Records of the Royal Society of Musicians.]