Franz Joseph Haydn was an Austrian composer of the Classical period. He was pivotal in the evolution of chamber music forms such as the string quartet and piano trio. His contributions to musical form have led him to be called "Father of the Symphony", "Father of the String quartet" and "Father of Sonata Form". March 31, 1732 – May 31, 1809; died at 77. Alive at the same time as Napoleon, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Immanuel Kant, Carl Linnaeus, and George Washington. Wiki link