This Day in History: Austrian composer Joseph Haydn died on this day in 1809. Known as the "Father of the Symphony" he was a friend and mentor of Mozart and a tutor to Beethoven. However, Haydn's story didn't end with his death. Much like Rene Descartes, his remains were quite active. After his death, graverobbers removed Haydn's skull so they could study it. More than ten years later, Prince Nikolaus Esterhazy II, decided to give Haydn a proper burial. During the exhumation it was discovered that the head was missing (his wig however was still there). An investigation ensued and a skull was returned to his grave. It was however the wrong skull. The people who produced the skull actually kept Haydn's skull in a special box, a box that was discovered 145 years later. That skull was reunited with the rest of the composer's bones. They didn't know what to do with the other skull so to this day Joseph Haydn's grave is buried with two skulls.
Several large chunks of Beethoven's skull were also stolen, and are presently in California. See the book, Beethoven's Hair for more.
Though buried in a pauper's grave, what is believed to be Mozart's skull was actually on display for a while 100 years ago in Salzburg, Austria.
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Heinz Schmitz
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