Nicolaus Johann van Beethoven

Life He was born in Bonn, the youngest son of Johann van Beethoven and his wife Maria Magdalena Keverich.

In 1809, Napoleon invaded Austria, establishing a base camp in Linz for wounded soldiers. Johann supplied the French army with their medical needs; this enabled Johann to prosper.

Personal impressions Gerhard von Breuning, son of the composer's friend Stephan von Breuning, gave this description of Johann to Alexander Wheelock Thayer: "His frame was not actually large, but was much larger than Ludwig's. His nose was large and rather long; his eyes were not evenly set, so that one got the impression he had a cast in one eye.... In his clothing he played the well-to-do dandy, but that did not suit his bony, angular figure. He bore no resemblance whatever to his brother Ludwig."

Count Moritz Lichnowsky, in the winter of 1822/23, said of Johann (during a conversation with Ludwig van Beethoven and recorded in the composer's conversation books): "Everyone makes a fool of him; we call him simply 'The Chevalier'. — Everybody says his only merit is that he bears your name."