Johann van Beethoven

Johann van Beethoven (1740-1792) was Ludwig van Beethoven's father. Born 14th November 1740, Johann was a descendant of a Flemish/Dutch family of musicians and instrument makers from former Brabant (presumably the Mechelen-Leuven area), he was the son of Louis van Beethoven (born in Mechelen, 1714, deceased in Bonn, 1773), Kapellmeister at the Electoral court at Bonn, and Maria Josepha Pall (married 1733). Ludwig van Beethoven is named after said Louis/Lodewijk/Ludwig van Beethoven.

Johann married Magdalena Keverich van Beethoven (1744â€"1787) of Slavic ancestry. He worked as a musician in the Electoral court at Bonn. There is a widely held theory that Ludwig's deafness in later life was partly caused by Johann repeatedly beating him on his ears in an effort to make him a more disciplined musician. Johann was an alcoholic and Ludwig had to support the family at a young age.