Érard, Sébastien

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Érard, Sébastien [ Sébastien Erhard] (b Strasbourg, 1752; d La Muette, nr. Paris, 1831). Fr. founder of firm of pf. and hp. manufacturers. Went to Paris 1768, built first Fr. pf. 1777. Est. firm with his brother in Paris 1779. Opened London branch 1786 working there until 1796, in which year, in Paris, he made his first grand pf. Patented improvements to pf. (repetition action) and hp. (double-action mechanism). Succeeded by nephew Pierre Érard (1796–1855). London branch closed 1890. Amalgamated with Gaveau, 1960.