Profile Text
Birth Name: Adolphe Charles Adam
Date of Birth: 24 July, 1803
Place of Birth: Paris, France
Date of Death: 3 May, 1856
Place of Death: Paris, France
Ethnicity: * father – Alsatian German * mother – French
Adolphe Adam was a French composer, of the romantic era; as well as teacher and music critic. He is known for his ballets and operas, and for the Christmas carol “Minuit, chrétiens”/”O Holy Night.”
Adolphe was the son of Élisabeth-Charlotte-Jeanne (Coste) and Jean-Louis/Johann Ludwig Adam, a composer, music teacher, and piano virtuoso. His father was born in Muttersholtz, Alsace, and was an Alsatian German. His mother was French. In 1775, his father moved to Paris, where he became professor at the Paris Conservatory. Adolphe was married to singer Sara Lescot, until her death, with whom he had a son; and then to singer Chérie-Louise Couraud.
Adolphe’s paternal grandfather was Mathias Adam (the son of Mathias Adam and Maria Ursula Schmetzer). Adolphe’s grandfather Mathias was born in Bas-Rhin, Alsace. Adolphe’s great-grandfather Mathias was born in Bas-Rhin, the son of Mathias Adam and Anna Maria Ehwald. Maria was born in Strasbourg, Bas-Rhin, the daughter of Johann Johann Philipp Schmetzer and Maria Elisabeth Mayer.
Adolphe’s paternal grandmother was Marie/Maria-Dorothée/Dorothea Meyer (the daughter of Johann Daniel Mayer and Anna Maria Waltz).
Adolphe’s maternal grandfather was named Thomas Coste.
Adolphe’s maternal grandmother was named Charlotte Louise Delaporte.
Adolphe is sometimes described as having been of Jewish heritage. This is not accurate.
Sources: Genealogy of Adolphe Adam – https://en.geneastar.org
Genealogy of Adolphe Adam (focusing on his father’s side) – https://www.geni.com
Short biography of Adolphe’s father – https://www.alsace-histoire.org (in French)