CIRCA 1800, BY LONGMAN, CLEMENTI AND COMPANY, LONDON

Muzio Clementi (1752 - 1832) was born in Rome and one of the great pianists of his time. He competed with Mozart, both as a pianist and as a composer. Clementi was brought to England in the 1760's by a wealthy patron where he enjoyed a very successful career. When the piano making firm of Longman and Broderip bankrupted in 1798, Clementi, a major shareholder, became a partner in the reorganized company, which became known as Longman, Clementi & Co. In 1801, Longman left to establish his own business and Clementi continued manufacturing pianos under his own name until his death.