Wilhelm Richard Wagner was born on May 22, 1813, in Leipzig's Jewish quarter.¹⁾

As a child, Wagner shown no ability or interest for music, and he was the only one of his brothers who did not get piano lessons. But, at the age of 13, he wrote a play called 'Leubald,' which he insisted be set to music, which is when he began taking music lessons.²⁾

He and his partner Minna Planer reportedly owned a huge Newfoundland named Robber - it's uncertain if this is the one photographed with Minna.³⁾

Wagner's first complete opera was never performed in his lifetime. 'Die Feen' ('The Fairies') never really caught on in the world of German opera and didn't receive its premiere until 1888.⁴⁾