Felix Mendelssohn Family Tree: The Story Behind Wedding March

Jakob Ludwig Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy (1809–1847), born 3 February 1809 in Hamburg, Confederation of the Rhine, and died 4 November 1847 in Leipzig, was the early-Romantic prodigy — 5 symphonies ("Italian", "Scottish", "Reformation"), Violin Concerto in E minor (1844), A Midsummer Night's Dream overture (1826) + incidental music ("Wedding March" 1842), Elijah oratorio (1846); revived Bach's St. Matthew Passion (1829).

The Family's Roots: A Wealthy Berlin Jewish Banking Family

Family baptised Christian; grandfather was Enlightenment philosopher Moses Mendelssohn.

His Grandfather

Moses Mendelssohn (1729–1786) — Enlightenment philosopher.

His Parents

Father: Abraham Mendelssohn Bartholdy (1776–1835) — banker.

Mother: Lea Salomon Mendelssohn (1777–1842).

His Siblings

Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel (1805–1847) — elder sister; composer (400+ works, mostly published under Felix's name in her lifetime).

Rebecka Mendelssohn (1811–1858); Paul Mendelssohn (1812–1874).

His Wife: Cécile Jeanrenaud

Cécile Jeanrenaud (1817–1853) — French Huguenot from Frankfurt. Married Felix on 28 March 1837.

Their 5 Children

Carl Wolfgang Paul (1838–1897); Marie Pauline (1839–1897); Paul Felix Abraham (1841–1880); Felix August Eduard (1843–1851); Elisabeth "Lili" (1845–1910).

The Mendelssohn Family Tree at a Glance

Grandfather: Moses Mendelssohn (1729–1786) — philosopher.

Father: Abraham Mendelssohn (1776–1835) — banker.

Mother: Lea Salomon Mendelssohn (1777–1842).

Siblings: Fanny Hensel (1805–1847) — composer; Rebecka (1811–1858); Paul (1812–1874).

Wife: Cécile Jeanrenaud (1817–1853; m. 28 March 1837).

Children: Carl (1838–1897); Marie (1839–1897); Paul (1841–1880); Felix (1843–1851); Lili (1845–1910).

Mendelssohn:

  • Born 3 February 1809, Hamburg
  • First public concert at 9 (1818)
  • Founded Leipzig Conservatory 1843
  • St. Matthew Passion revival 1829 — sparked Bach revival
  • Sister Fanny died 14 May 1847; Felix collapsed and never recovered
  • Died: 4 November 1847, Leipzig — series of strokes at 38 (6 months after Fanny)

What the Mendelssohn Family Story Teaches Us

An Enlightenment-philosopher grandfather. A banker father. A composer elder sister (Fanny) whose death broke him. A wife of 10 years. 5 children. A career that revived Bach and wrote the wedding march played at millions of weddings.

For every family — large or small, famous or otherwise — the Mendelssohn story carries the same lesson. Some sibling losses take the surviving composer's life 6 months later.

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