George Willig, Jr.

American, born Germany, 1764–1851

Birth placeGermany

SchoolGerman

BiographyPhiladelphia Music Publishers: George Willig (1764-1851)

George Willig was born in Germany in 1764. In 1794 Willig was in Philadelphia where he took over the business started in 1793 by John Christopher Moller and Henri Capron, the first music publishing company in America. Willig continued to publish through the 1840s, becoming one of the most active and long-lasting music publishers in the United States. Willig's son, George Jr., was also active in the business, operating the Baltimore branch of the company from 1829 until his death in 1879. Geogre Willig, Sr. had acquired the Baltimore store from Thomas Carr in 1822 when Carr moved to Philadelphia. Willig's Philadelphia firm was taken over by Lee & Walker in 1856, five years after his death.

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