Franz Joseph Haydn (31 March 1732 – 31 May 1809) was an Austrian composer active during the Classical period. He played a key role in shaping several musical forms, particularly chamber music, and is often referred to as the "Father of the Symphony" and the "Father of the String Quartet" due to his significant contributions to these genres. Haydn was born into a modest family in a rural village. He began his musical education as a choirboy at St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna and later worked as a freelance musician. His major professional breakthrough came with his long-term appointment as music director to the Esterházy family, one of the wealthiest noble families in the Habsburg Empire. He spent much of his career at their estate, Eszterháza, in what is now Hungary. This relatively isolated setting required him to produce a large volume of music for the court, which contributed to the development of his distinct compositional voice. During this period, his music became widely published and earned him considerable recognition across Europe. Following the death of his patron Nikolaus Esterházy in 1790, Haydn was no longer bound to court duties and had the opportunity to travel. He visited London twice, where his public performances and new compositions further increased his popularity. In his later years, from around 1803, Haydn's declining health prevented him from composing, and he spent the remainder of his life in Vienna, where he died in 1809 at the age of 77. Haydn maintained important relationships with other leading composers of his time. He was a close friend and mentor to Mozart and taught Beethoven early in the latter's career. He was also the older brother of composer Michael Haydn.