Photo from K. Koshida This is Nicholas Lanier born 1588, son of John Lanier and Frances Galliardello and grandson of Nicholas Lanier born 1540. It is a self-portrait painted around 1644 while he was at court with the king in Oxford. The picture hangs in the faculty of Music in Oxford.

Louise Ingersoll: from the book "Lanier"

He was in the Court of King Henry II of France, and also the Court of Queen Elizabeth, and King James of England. He was the ancestor of the American Laniers. During the Protestant persecutions, he was a Huguenot to England with safe passage arranged for him by his patroness, the widowed Queen Catherine de Medici.

In 1559 the Earl of Hertford was looking to find a new flautist and Nicholas was appointed, and found lodgings with a fellow French musician, Guillaume de Vache. He had six sons, musicians to the Queen and Kings, and four daughters, two of whom married musicians; and later eight or more grandsons who became members of the Royal Orchestra, making three generations serving the royal family.

During the Protestant persecutions, he was a Huguenot to England with safe passage arranged for him by queen Catherine de Medici.

Nicholas Lanier was paired by Queen Elizabeth I with Lucreece Bassano, daughter of Anthony Bassano, a Venetian musician of the Royal Orchestra. In 1630, a ship arrested en route for Spain loaded with "prohibited goods" was the "Lanier" of Rouen.

It may be that the colonial Laniers and their close descendants were occupied with survival, instead of artistic pursuits, and here are some of them

John Lanier, son of Nicholas Lanier, lifetime of service as court musician to Elizabeth I and James I. Nicholas Lanier, the Younger, son of John, was a great musician, composer, artist; he was Master of the King's Music for Charles I. Other sons, Mark Antony Lanier and John Lanier were musicians.

Alphonse Lanier, son of Nicholas Lanier, instrumentalist for Elizabeth I and James I.

Jeronimo Bassano, composer and musician who moved his family of musicians to serve at the court of Henry VIII. Jeronimo's musician sons were, probably, Anthony, Jacamo, Jasper, John, and Baptisa.

Gionanni Bassano, composer and musician, was Maestro di Concerto at St. Mark's, Venice 1575 -1616; he was the first conductor in the Bassano family. Another who composed was Augustine Bassano.

Jacopo Bassano, painter whose work is hanging today at the Museum of Bassano del Grappo.


Emelia Bassano Lanier, poet and musician of the virginal.

Jerome Lanier, son of Nicholas Lanier, musician on the sackbut (something like a trombone), artist. At least one of his children, William Lanier, was a musician.

Clement Lanier, son of Nicholas Lanier, musician on the recorder.

Andrea Lanier, son of Nicholas Lanier, flutist and teacher of musicians, succeeded his father as Master of the Flutes for Life. Son Thomas Lanier was a musician.

Alfonso Ferrabosco, violinist, composer of the King's Music, husband of Ellen Lanier (daughter of Nicholas Lanier). Three of their sons--Alphonse Ferrabosco, Henry Ferrabosco, John Ferrabosco--were musicians. His wife is Nicholas Lanier's daughter, Ellen Lanier.

Thomas Foxe, musician, husband of Frances Lanier (daughter of Nicholas Lanier).

Daniel Ferrand violinist, husband of Katherine Lanier (daughter of Nicholas Lanier)

Sidney Lanier, poet and flutist. Read his poems The Marshes of Glynn and Individuality.

Genevieve Lanier, poet.

Lena Ada Dixson, artist, singer and pianist, great-granddaughter of Major Lewis Lanier,

Lena Andrews, singer and pianist, daughter of Lena Ada Dixson, Beverly Sloan, art major and wit, granddaughter of Lena Ada Dixson --

and

eight great-granddaughters of Lena Ada Dixson, all artists or musicians.

Troy Lanier, artist. Mary Catharine Smith, artist, daughter of Troy Lanier.

Carol Nicol, artist, designer, granddaughter of Troy Lanier. As a very small girl, she was given a birthday gift of a violin. Never having touched a violin, she picked it up and immediately played "Happy Birthday to Me".

Lucy Lanier Andrews and Tennessee Williams, the famous playwrite, whose name is Thomas Lanier Williams, descend from Nicholas Lanier through Rebecca Lanier, Tennessee Williams' great-great-great grandmother. Rebecca Lanier Williams and Lucy Lanier Andrews share the same great-grandfather, John Lanier. Lucy's half-sister, Elizabeth Warren "Patsey" Lanier, also so descends. Lucy's great-great grandson, William Lafayette Andrews, Jr., was a gifted musician.