Composer. Left orphaned at three years old, his grandfather, John Bennett assumed parenting duties. By the age of ten, in 1826, he received a full scholarship at the Royal Academy of Music (RAM) having impressed the examiners. His first piano concerto (No. 1 in D minor) debuted in 1832 with Bennett as soloist. He continued public performances including a command performance for King William IV in 1833. That same year, he was to meet Felix Mendelssohn who invited Bennett to participate in the Lower Rhenish Music Festival in Dusseldorf. Tutoring students and organist work at St. Ann's kept him busy for the next few years. He made his first appearance at the Philharmonic Society of London in 1835, playing the premiere of his second piano concerto in E-flat major. During that time, he became a member of the Society of British Musicians. Finally in 1836, he traveled to Dusseldorf for the music festival. He continued to write there and developed a friendship with Robert Schumann. Both Schumann and Mendelssohn publicly praised Bennett's work and Mendelssohn especially held high hopes for Bennett's future. Returning to England in 1837, Bennett took on a teaching job at RAM which he kept until 1858. He continued to visit Germany often debuting his latest compositions. Joining the staff of Queen's College, he continued his tutoring there and at RAM and giving over forty public performances at the Hanover Square Rooms. In 1853, his thirty "Preludes and Lessons, Op 33" were published. This remains in use today by piano music students. His founding of the Bach Society in 1854, led to his conducting of the first performance of Bach's "St. Matthew Passion." In 1866, Bennett was appointed principal of the RAM which was facing bankruptcy and both a failing enrollment and reputation. By 1872, he had turned the Academy around both in terms of prestige and fiscal standing. He received doctorates from both Cambridge and Oxford. The Philharmonic Society awarded him its Beethoven gold medal in 1867. He was knighted in 1871 by Queen Victoria. Over his lifetime, he wrote one hundred thirty pieces, including for the piano, symphonies, choral work and songs. A scholarship was established at RAM which is still awarded today. Bennett died at home after a week's illness noted as "disease of the brain." Many feel his early piano work was his best. His work in modernizing and strengthening musical education would have an enduring impact in Britain.