Born to French/Polish parents in the village of Żelazowa Wola, Fryderyk Chopin (1810-1849) stands out as Poland’s finest composer, and remains the source of global reverence who has given his name to hotels, an airport and even an asteroid.

His father was a French expatriate who had once fought against the Russians, before choosing to settle in Poland. A year after Fryderyk was born the family moved to Warsaw, where his father pursued a career as a French tutor. The young Chopin started learning piano at the age of four, and by age eight had already performed at what is now the Presidential Palace. A diligent student he was educated at home for the first 13 years, before attending Warsaw’s Lyceum, and then the Warsaw Music Conservatory. He continued to blossom under its director, the Polish composer Joseph Elsner, who was wowed by Chopin’s musical genius.

Within three weeks of graduation he made a sparkling debut in Vienna, before returning to Poland to perform the premier of his Piano Concerto in F minor. Already recognised as an amazing talent, Chopin started showing the signs of illness that would continue to blight the rest of his life. Chopin set off to play in Vienna in November 1830, following a farewell party in a Wola tavern. Unbeknownst to him, that was to be his last taste of Warsaw. By the end of the month Poland had rose in rebellion against Russian rule. Dissuaded from joining the uprising himself Chopin drew inspiration from events to write his tortured masterpiece, Revolution.

Choosing to stay in exile Chopin settled in Paris where he was welcomed by Polish émigrés, as well as upcoming composers and high society. His friends numbered Berlioz, Bellini (who he is buried next to) and Mendelssohn, as well as high profile Poles like the uncrowned King, Prince Adam Czartoryski and Adam Mickiewicz, while his dapper dress and natural charms attracted a string of adoring females. Drawing on his Polish upbringing the 1830s saw Chopin enjoy a magically productive spell, composing a series of acclaimed polonaises and mazurkas.

The defining point of his life though can be pinned to his meeting with controversial author George Sand in 1837. Despite being engaged to a 17 year old girl and some curious first impressions of Sand (“what an unpleasant woman”), the two embarked on a torrid nine year affair. Racked with chronic lung problems and a near permanent cough, the faltering relationship hit stormy waters when Sand, an alleged nymphomaniac, serialised the novel Lucretia Floriani in a Paris newspaper in 1846. The selfish antihero is commonly recognized as being a parody of Chopin. Broke, ill and broken-hearted Chopin led an increasingly miserable life.

Struck with tuberculosis he finally passed away in his Paris apartment aged just 39. Buried in Pere-Lachaise cemetery in Paris, on his insistence his body was cut open (he was terrified of being buried alive) and his heart later buried in Warsaw’s Kościół Świętego Krzyża. Regarded as the pinnacle of the Romantic style his music and legend survive to this day.