He was made a CH (Companion of Honour) in the Coronation Honours List of 1953, appointed an OM (Order of Merit) in June 1965, and made a Life Peer in July 1976.
He has a school named after him in his birth town of Lowestoft.
A pacifist, Britten did not do military service in World War II but helped the wartime effort by presenting concerts.
English composer and pianist, best remembered for his contributions to opera. By the age of fourteen, he had written string quartets, piano sonatas, songs, a symphony and an oratorio.