. He was born in Westminster on 25 November 1819, son of Edward Hopkins, a musician. The organist
Edward John Hopkins was a cousin. He sang for several years as chorister boy in
Westminster Abbey,
James Turle being the organist and master of the choristers. After leaving the abbey choir Hopkins devoted himself to the study of music, and particularly of the organ, with such success that in 1841, aged 22, he was chosen to succeed Ralph Banks as organist of
Rochester Cathedral. In 1842 Hopkins took the degree of Mus. Bac. at Cambridge University, and in 1856 was elected organist at
Trinity College, Cambridge; he resigned his appointment at Rochester and moved to Cambridge. He proceeded to the degree of Mus. Doc. in 1857. He died at
Ventnor, Isle of Wight, on 25 April 1873. ==Compositions==