Chronology of Beethoven’s life
| 1770 | When was Beethoven born? December 16th uncertain in Bonn, Germany December 17th: Baptized at Bonn |
| 1774 |
April 8th: Baptism of his brother Caspar Anton Carl |
| 1776 |
October 2nd: Baptism of his brother Nikolaus Johann |
| 1778 |
March 26th: Ludwig’s first known public performance, at Cologne |
| 1779 | February 23rd: Baptism of his sister Anna Maria Franziska (died four days later) October: Neefe pursues Ludwig’s musical training |
| 1781 | January 17th: Baptism of his brother Franz Georg (died two years later) |
| 1782 | Publication of first work in Beethoven life known as the Dressler Variations |
| 1783 | October 14th: Publication of three sonatas and other works |
| 1784 |
June: Ludwig is appointed organist to the Choir of Maximilian Franz. He is 14 year old. |
| 1786 | May 5th: Baptism of his sister Maria Margaretha (died one year later) |
| 1787 |
Visited Vienna, studied with Mozart |
| 1789-1792 |
Played for four seasons as violinist at the Opera of Bonn |
| 1791 | December 5th: Death of Mozart |
| 1792 | November 2nd: Left for Vienna November 10th: Arrived at Vienna Musical studies with Haydn December 18th: Death of his father |
| 1794 | May: His brother Carl arrives at Vienna January 19th: Haydn returns to London. Ludwig studies with Albrechtsberger Composition of his first major work: Trios for Piano (opus 1) |
| 1795 |
March 29th: First public appearance at Vienna; he played his own works |
| 1796 |
Numerous Beethoven compositions and a concert given at Prague |
| 1797 | Probably the year of a serious illness, which triggered his deafness |
| 1797-1799 |
Composition and publication of works |
| 1799 | Instruction by Salieri Began composing the first symphony |
| 1800 |
Concert at Vienna, playing of his first symphony |
| 1802 |
February: Finished his second symphony |
| 1803 | January: Ludwig became the composer of the Theatre of Vienna, where he lived with his brother Carl June-October: Composed the Eroica symphony August 6th: The piano maker Sébastien Erard sent him a new piano, as a present. This allowed for bigger intervals – like the pianos we have today. |
| 1804 | April: His contract with the theatre finishes |
| 1805 |
April 7th: First public performance of the Eroica symphony |
| 1806 | May 25th: Marriage of his brother Caspar Carl Journey with the Prince Lichnowsky, and composition of the fourth symphony |
| 1807 | Composition of the Coriolan Overture March: First performance of the fourth symphony Autumn: Composition of the fifth symphony |
| 1808 |
Spring-Summer: Composition of the sixth symphony – The Pastoral |
| 1809 | April 9th: War is declared against France May 10th: French army surrounds Vienna May 11th-12th: France takes possession of Vienna Beethoven teaches music to Archduke Rudolphe |
| 1810 | April 27th: Beethoven presents ‘The Letter for Elise’ to Thérèse Malfatti |
| 1811 | October: Beethoven begins writing the seventh symphony |
| 1812 |
March 2nd: Presentation of ‘To the Beloved’ to Antonie Brentano |
| 1813 | December 8th: First public presentation of the eighth symphony |
| 1814 | February 27th: Playing of the eighth symphony May 23rd: First presentation of Fidelio |
| 1815 | November 15th: Ludwig’s brother, Carl, dies. After several court cases, Ludwig is given guardianship of his nephew. |
| 1816 | October: Beethoven becomes ill |
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1817
|
Beginning of the year: Beethoven is still ill September 10th: Writing of the first bars of the ninth symphony |
| 1818 | February 14th: Beethoven and Salieri recommend the metronome in the Viennese press. February: Beethoven’s deafness is such that he has to use a notebook and pencil to converse with visitors. December 3rd: Karl runs away to his mother’s home, but Beethoven demands that the police bring him back. |
| 1819 | January 11th: The guardianship of Karl is taken away from Beethoven on grounds of his deafness. November: Composition of ‘Missa Solemnis’ |
| 1820 | April 8th: Beethoven becomes Karl’s tutor again, with Karl Peters. |
| 1821 | January and the following months: Beethoven becomes regularly ill |
| 1822 | October: Pursues the composition of the ninth symphony and the beginnings of the tenth |
| 1823 | March 6th: Beethoven names Karl as his heir Works on the ninth symphony |
| 1824 | Works on the tenth symphony (only the first movement was written in detail) February: Finished writing the ninth symphony May 7th: Public playing of the ninth symphony |
| 1825 | May 7th-October 15th: Beethoven installs himself at Baden |
| 1826 | August 6th: Karl attempts suicide by shooting himself in the head. He’s only injured. December: Beethoven’s health starts to decline. He undergoes an operation. |
| 1827 |
He undergoes three further operations in the first two months of the year… |