In 1818 this organ was commissioned by George IV and installed in his newly built Music Room at the Royal Pavilion, Brighton. Its maker was Henry Cephas Lincoln. At the time, it was said to be the largest and most powerful instrument in England. To a certain extent, George IV was also involved in the organ's conception and there are records of alterations made to the front of the organ 'by desire of His Majesty'.

When Queen Victoria sold the Royal Pavilion in 1850, the organ was packed up into 56 pieces and sent to Kensington Palace for storage. Five years later it re-emerged and was installed at Queen Victoria’s new ballroom at Buckingham Palace. It was heard publicly for the first time on 2 July 1856 when a concert was given to inaugurate the ‘new Ball and Concert-room’.