Lodewijk van Beethoven

Lodewijk van Beethoven, better known as Ludwig van Beethoven the Elder, was a Flemish professional singer and music director, best known as the grandfather of the composer Ludwig van Beethoven. In the baptismal register he was named Ludovicus van Beethoven. During his life, his first name was written variously as Lodewyk, Lodewyck, Lodewijck, Lodewijk, Louis, and Ludwig.