Gottfried Freiherr van Swieten was a Dutch-born diplomat, librarian, and government official who served the Holy Roman Empire during the 18th century. He was an enthusiastic amateur musician and is best remembered today as the patron of several great composers of the Classical era, including Carl Phillip Emanuel Bach, Joseph Haydn, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and Ludwig van Beethoven.
- Occupation
- librarian, diplomat, librettist, composer
- Position held
- ambassador, ambassador of the Holy Roman Empire to Prussia
- Citizenship
- Dutch Republic
- Born
- October 29, 1733
