George Frideric Handel

1685 – 1759 · died at about 74^[1][2]

Music

Fun Facts About George Frideric Handel

• George Frideric Handel was nearly killed in 1704 by his friend, composer Johann Mattheson, in a sudden quarrel. He was saved only by a large button that turned aside Mattheson's sword.^[1]
• Handel's Messiah premiered in Dublin in 1742 at concerts for the benefit of local hospitals. He had composed it between 22 August and 14 September 1741.^[1]
• Handel's coronation anthem Zadok the Priest has been performed at every British coronation since 1727.^[1]
• Handel escaped the South Sea Bubble: he bought shares in 1716 when prices were low and sold them before the bubble burst in 1720.^[1]
• Johann Sebastian Bach tried to meet Handel while Handel was visiting Halle, but the attempt failed.^[1][3][4]
• Beethoven called Handel "the greatest composer that ever lived" and said he would uncover his head and kneel before Handel's tomb.^[1][5][6]
• George Frideric Handel was alive at the same time as Johann Wolfgang von Goethe — their lives overlapped for 10 years (1749–1759).^[1][2][7][8]
• George Frideric Handel shares a birthday with Naruhito: both were born on February 23.^{[1][2][9][10]}

George Frideric Handel was a German-British Baroque composer well-known for his operas, oratorios, anthems, concerti grossi, and organ concerti.^[1]

Contemporaries

Johann Sebastian Bach

65 yr overlap

Voltaire

65 yr overlap

Antonio Vivaldi

56 yr overlap

Benjamin Franklin

53 yr overlap

Carl Linnaeus

52 yr overlap

Leonhard Euler

52 yr overlap

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

47 yr overlap

Frederick the Great

47 yr overlap

Isaac Newton

42 yr overlap

Peter the Great

40 yr overlap

Christopher Wren

38 yr overlap

Adam Smith

36 yr overlap

Their World

Questions About George Frideric Handel

When was George Frideric Handel born?

George Frideric Handel was born on February 23, 1685, and died on April 14, 1759.

How old was George Frideric Handel at death?

George Frideric Handel was born on February 23, 1685, and died on April 14, 1759, at age 74.

What was George Frideric Handel known for?

George Frideric Handel was known for: Messiah oratorio. George Frideric Handel was a German-British Baroque composer well-known for his operas, oratorios, anthems, concerti grossi, and organ concerti.

Who was alive at the same time as George Frideric Handel?

George Frideric Handel's closest contemporary was Johann Sebastian Bach. Their lives overlapped for 65 years.