when was beethoven born

Ludwig van Beethoven was most probably born on December 16, 1770, in Bonn, which was then part of the Electorate of Cologne in the Holy Roman Empire. His baptism certificate is dated December 17, 1770, and since it was customary in that region and period to baptize infants within 24 hours of birth, December 16 is accepted as his birthdate. Although Beethoven himself believed for some time that he was born two years later, modern scholarship agrees on December 16, 1770, as the accurate date.