Henry E. Steinway facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Henry E. Steinway
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Henry E. Steinway. This studio photo was taken by Mathew Brady, a noted Civil War-era photographer.
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| Born |
Heinrich Engelhard Steinweg
February 22, 1797 Wolfshagen im Harz, Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, Holy Roman Empire
(now Langelsheim, Lower Saxony, Germany) |
| Died | February 7, 1871 (aged 73) |
| Occupation | Piano manufacturer |
| Known for | Founding the piano company Steinway & Sons |
Heinrich Engelhard Steinweg, also known as Henry Engelhard Steinway, was a famous German-American piano maker. He was born on February 22, 1797, and passed away on February 7, 1871. Henry made pianos in both Germany and the United States. He is most famous for starting the well-known piano company, Steinway & Sons.
Contents
Henry's Early Life and Challenges
Henry was born Heinrich Engelhard Steinweg in a place called Wolfshagen im Harz in what is now Germany. His childhood was full of difficult times. When he was just 8 years old, he became an orphan and had to take care of himself. Later, his father and brothers, who were thought to have died in a war, returned and took him in again.
But when Henry was 15, he became an orphan once more. At this point, he decided to join the German Army. In 1814, he joined a special group called the Schwarze Schar. They fought against Napoleon's army, which had taken over parts of Germany. Henry stayed in the army during the Napoleonic Wars until 1815.
Building a Career in Music
Henry left the army on June 23, 1822. He started working as a carpenter. Later, he became an apprentice to someone who built organs in the town of Goslar. He soon found out how much he loved music. He even became an organ player in a church.
Henry began to build musical instruments himself. At first, he had to do this secretly in his kitchen. This was because of strict rules from the "guilds," which were groups that controlled trades. In Braunschweig, he started by making guitars and zithers. Then, he moved on to building pianos. At first, they were small, but he gradually made bigger ones.
In 1835, Henry made his very first square piano. He gave it to his bride, Juliane, as a wedding gift. The next year, in 1836, he built his first grand piano. He made it in his kitchen in the town of Seesen. This piano is now called the "kitchen piano." You can see it at the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art, along with another piano he made in 1836. In 1839, he showed three of his pianos at a trade show in Germany and won a gold medal!
Moving to America and Starting Steinway & Sons
Life in Germany became difficult because of political problems. There were also not many chances for someone like Henry, who worked outside the guild system. So, Henry decided to move. In 1850, he moved from Braunschweig to New York City with five of his sons. Before he left, he gave his company to his son, Christian Friedrich Theodor Steinweg.
Once in New York, Henry changed his name to Henry E. Steinway. His friends told him that his German last name, Steinweg, might make it harder to do business. In the early 1850s, Henry and his sons worked for other piano companies. This helped them learn more about the business. Soon, they were able to start their own company, which they called Steinway & Sons.
The Steinway Piano quickly became famous. In 1855, their square piano won first prize at the New York Industrial Fair. In 1862, they won another first prize in London, competing against the best piano makers in Europe. This was followed by another big win in 1867 at a huge exhibition in Paris. Famous pianists like Franz Liszt and Anton Rubinstein said that Steinway & Sons had done more to improve pianos than any other company. They made pianos stronger, easier to play, and sound better.
Henry's Family Life
Henry married Juliane Thiemer on May 15, 1825, in Seesen, Germany. Juliane's father was a master glove maker. Henry and Juliane had ten children together:
- C.F. Theodore Steinway (1825–1889)
- Doretta Steinway (1828-1900)
- Charles H. Steinway (1829-1865)
- Henry Steinway, Jr. (1831-1865)
- Wilhelmina Steinway (1833-1875)
- William Steinway (1835–1896)
- Hermann Steinweg (1836-?)
- Albert Steinway (1840-1877)
- Anna Steinway (1842-1861)
- Juliane Steinway (died as a baby)
Henry Engelhard Steinway passed away in New York City on February 7, 1871.
See also
In Spanish: Heinrich Steinweg para niños
