Ludwig van Beethoven was a famous classical composer born in 1770 in Bonn, Germany. He showed great musical talent from a young age. Beethoven struggled with deafness and other health issues throughout his life but was still able to compose many famous works. Some of his most renowned pieces were written during his "Heroic" period from 1803 to 1814, including his iconic Fifth Symphony. Despite his hardships, Beethoven left behind a vast body of work that established him as one of the greatest composers of the Classical and Romantic eras.