Henry E. Steinway

Early life Steinway was born Heinrich Engelhard Steinweg of Heinrich Zacharias Steinweg and Rosine Elisabeth Bauerochse in Wolfshagen im Harz, Duchy of Brunswick in the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation (modern Lower Saxony, Germany). He attended public school in his home town. At the age of 8, he was an orphan and thrown upon his own resources, until his father and brothers, once thought to have been killed in action, returned and claimed him once more. Then, at 15, he was orphaned once again, and it was at this time that he joined the German Army. In 1839, he exhibited three pianos at the state trade exhibition in Braunschweig, Germany and was awarded a gold medal.

Because of the unstable political climate following the revolutions of 1848 in the German states and the limited economic opportunities for a man working outside a guild, Steinweg decided to leave the country. He emigrated from Braunschweig to New York City in 1850 with five of his sons, but before leaving he gave the company to his son, Christian Friedrich Theodor Steinweg. Later in New York, he anglicized his name to Henry E. Steinway upon advice from friends, who concluded that the German surname Steinweg would be disadvantageous for doing business. In the early 1850s, Steinway and his sons worked for other piano companies until they could establish their own production under the name of Steinway & Sons. In 1862 they gained the first prize in London in competition with the most eminent makers in Europe; and this victory was followed in 1867 by a similar success at the Universal exposition in Paris. According to pianistic giants such as Franz Liszt, Anton Rubinstein, and other high authorities, the Steinways have done more to advance the durability, action, and tone-quality of their instruments than any other makers of Europe or America. He and his wife, Juliane, had ten children: C.F. Theodore Steinway (1825–1889) Doretta Steinway (1828–1900), married Jacob Ziegler Charles H. Steinway (1829–1865) Henry Steinway, Jr. (1831–1865) Wilhelmina Steinway (1833–1875), married Theodore Vogel William Steinway (1835–1896) Hermann Steinweg (1836–?), was passenger on steamer Helena Sloman to New York City being 14 yrs old Albert Steinway (1840–1877), who served in the 5th New York State Militia during the American Civil War. Anna Steinway (1842–1861) Juliane Steinway (died in infancy)

Henry Engelhard Steinway died in New York City, United States, on February 7, 1871.