Franz Joseph Haydn was born on 31 March 1732 in Rohrau, Austria, to a family of modest means. His father, Mathias Haydn, was a wheelwright and marketplace supervisor, while his mother, Maria Koller, worked as a cook. Despite their lack of formal musical training, the family was musically inclined, often singing together. Recognizing their son's talent, Haydn's parents sent him to live with his relative Johann Matthias Frankh, a choirmaster in Hainburg, for musical training around the age of six. Life in the Frankh household was challenging, but Haydn quickly learned to play the harpsichord and violin and sang in the church choir.In 1739, Haydn's singing caught the attention of Georg Reutter the Younger, the director of music at St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna. After passing an audition, he moved to Vienna in 1740, where he served as a chorister for nine years. Although he received little formal instruction in music theory, he gained valuable experience as a professional musician. By 1749, Haydn's voice had changed, leading to his dismissal from the choir. He then struggled as a freelance musician, taking various jobs, including teaching and working as a valet-accompanist for composer Nicola Porpora, from whom he learned composition fundamentals.Haydn's early compositions included the opera 'Der krumme Teufel,' which premiered in 1753 but was soon censored. He gained aristocratic patronage through Countess Thun and later worked for Baron Carl Josef Fürnberg, where he composed his first string quartets. In 1757, he became Kapellmeister for Count Morzin, leading a small orchestra and composing symphonies. His marriage in 1760 to Maria Anna Theresia Keller was unhappy, and they had no children.In 1761, Haydn was appointed Vice-Kapellmeister for Prince Paul Anton Esterházy, later becoming Kapellmeister in 1766. He worked at the Esterházy court for nearly three decades, producing a vast body of work, including symphonies and operas. The prince's interest in the baryton led Haydn to compose around 200 works for the instrument. In 1779, a new contract allowed Haydn to publish his compositions, leading to increased international recognition. He composed string quartets and symphonies, including the Paris symphonies and 'The Seven Last Words of Christ.'After the death of Prince Nikolaus in 1790, Haydn was free to travel and gained fame in London, where he conducted new symphonies. His visits to England resulted in some of his most famous works, including the 'Surprise' and 'Military' symphonies. Haydn returned to Vienna in 1795, where he became a public figure and composed oratorios such as 'The Creation' and 'The Seasons.' He continued to compose until his health declined in 1803, leading to an inability to work.Haydn died on 31 May 1809 in Vienna at the age of 77. His remains were initially interred in a local cemetery before being moved to Eisenstadt in 1820. His contributions to music, particularly in the development of the symphony and string quartet, have earned him the titles 'Father of the Symphony' and 'Father of the String Quartet.' He was a mentor to Mozart and a teacher to Beethoven, leaving a lasting legacy in classical music.