Biography

Beethoven was born in Bonn, Germany to Johann van Beethoven, a music teacher and singer. Young Beethoven's musical talent was recognized early and was cultivated by various teachers. His skill with the piano was particularly noted and he earned an income from teaching others. Beethoven gradually went deaf and withdrew from performing publicly on piano, but continued to compose. Frances "Fanny" Seward records reading a history of Beethoven's life by John Octavius Glover in her 1866 diary.