William Beale Wotton

William Beale Wotton (1832–1912) was the first bassoon professor at the Royal College of Music, and was chosen for this position by George Grove when the College opened in 1883. He had joined the army at 13-years-old and played the bassoon in the Life Guards; by 1866 he was playing with the Crystal Palace orchestra and rapidly became one of the most respected bassoonists of his generation. Wotton also played the saxophone, and is said to have been the first player of the instrument in this country. He remained on the staff of the College until 1905.

The instrument that Wotton is holding is probably a Savary bassoon – a French model that was particularly highly regarded by English music professionals and played throughout the nineteenth century; one such instrument, once owned by Wotton’s younger brother Thomas, is now in the College’s Museum of Music.