The document provides biographical information about Gioachino Rossini, the composer of the William Tell Overture. It notes that Rossini was born in Italy in 1792 on Leap Day and died in France in 1868 at the age of 76. After composing 38 operas by age 38, including William Tell in 1829, Rossini retired from composition and took up cooking. His estate was valued at 2.5 million francs upon his death, equivalent to around 1.4 million US dollars today.