LESUEUR

lesueur, jean francois (1760 or 1763-1837), french musical composer, was born on the 15th of january 1760 (or 1763) at drucat-plessiel, near abbeville. he was a choir boy in the cathedral of amiens, and then became musical director at various churches. in 1786 he obtained by open competition the musical directorship of the cathedral of notre-dame in paris, where he gave successful performances of sacred music with a full orchestra. this place he resigned in 1787; and, after a retirement of five years in a friend's country house, he produced _la caverne_ and two other operas at the theatre feydeau in paris. at the foundation of the paris conservatoire (1795) lesueur was appointed one of its inspectors of studies, but was dismissed in 1802, owing to his disagreements with mehul. lesueur succeeded g. paisiello as _maestro di cappella_ to napoleon, and produced (1804) his _ossian_ at the opera. he also composed for the emperor's coronation a mass and a te deum. louis