Louis-Hector Berlioz (11 December 1803 – 8 March 1869) was a prominent French Romantic composer, conductor, and critic, known for his innovative orchestral works and contributions to the Romantic music movement. Born in La Côte-Saint-André, France, Berlioz was the eldest son of a physician and initially pursued a career in medicine at his father's behest. However, his passion for music led him to abandon medical studies and enroll at the Paris Conservatoire in 1826.

Berlioz's early musical education was largely self-directed, learning instruments like the flute and guitar, and composing by his early teens. His musical career began in earnest after winning the prestigious Prix de Rome in 1830, the same year he completed his groundbreaking Symphonie fantastique. This work, inspired by his infatuation with the Irish actress Harriet Smithson, exemplified the emotional intensity and narrative style that characterized Romantic music.

Despite his innovative compositions, Berlioz often struggled for recognition in France, facing resistance from the conservative musical establishment. His opera Benvenuto Cellini was a failure, and his epic Les Troyens was not fully staged during his lifetime. Nonetheless, he achieved international acclaim as a conductor, particularly in Germany, Russia, and England.

Berlioz supplemented his income through musical journalism, producing influential writings such as his Treatise on Instrumentation (1844). His later works included the choral symphony Roméo et Juliette and the dramatic legend La Damnation de Faust. In the 1850s, he gained financial stability and recognition, being elected to the Institut de France.

Berlioz's personal life was marked by tumult; his marriage to Smithson eventually failed, and he suffered personal losses, including the death of his second wife and only child. He died in Paris at the age of 65, leaving a legacy of innovative compositions that continue to influence the world of classical music.