Niccolò Paganini was an Italian violinist, guitarist and composer. He was the most celebrated violin virtuoso of his time, and left his mark as one of the pillars of modern violin technique. His 24 Caprices for Solo Violin Op. 1 are among the best known of his compositions. October 27, 1782 – 1840; died at about 57. Alive at the same time as Karl Marx, Abraham Lincoln, Leo Tolstoy, Charles Darwin, and Napoleon. Wiki link