Claude Debussy, born Achille-Claude Debussy on August 22, 1862, in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, France, was a pioneering French composer whose work significantly influenced the music of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Despite being born into a family of modest means, Debussy's exceptional talent for music was evident early on, leading to his admission to the Paris Conservatory at a young age. His innovative approach to composition, characterized by nontraditional scales and tonal structures, positioned him as a central figure in the Impressionist music movement, although he himself rejected this label.

Debussy's early musical education was marked by a mix of influences, including his studies in piano and composition at the Paris Conservatory and his exposure to Russian and Far Eastern music. He gained further artistic inspiration during his travels with Nadezhda von Meck, a patron who previously supported Tchaikovsky. In 1884, Debussy won the prestigious Prix de Rome with his cantata "L’Enfant prodigue," which facilitated further study in Italy.

Among Debussy's most notable works are "Clair de lune," "Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune," the opera "Pelléas et Mélisande," and "La Mer." His compositions often reflected the ideals of Impressionist and Symbolist movements, with a focus on creating evocative atmospheres and exploring new harmonic possibilities. Debussy's music was a reaction against the German musical tradition, particularly the works of Richard Wagner, although Wagner's influence was initially profound.

Throughout his career, Debussy wrote a wide range of compositions, including orchestral works, piano pieces, and songs set to various poetic texts. His later years saw a focus on chamber music, during which he completed several sonatas. Debussy's innovative style and harmonic exploration left a lasting impact on subsequent generations of composers, including Béla Bartók and Olivier Messiaen.

Claude Debussy passed away on March 25, 1918, in Paris, succumbing to cancer at the age of 55. His legacy endures through his contributions to the development of modern music and his role as a transformative figure in the transition from Romanticism to modernism in classical music.