Franz Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) served the Esterházy family as composer, conductor/director of orchestral concerts and operas, chamber musician and administrator of court musicians in Austria for 30 years. When his patron Prince Nikolaus died in 1790, his successor dismissed all the musicians, although Haydn retained his salary and title of Kapellmeister. He traveled to London where the royalty lionized and entertained him and Oxford University granted him an honorary degree. While Die Schöpfung (The Creation) occupied him primarily during the 1790s, he managed to compose chamber and symphonic works. These four trios are the product of his London years. He dedicated the Trios in G minor and B-flat Major to Princess Maria Anna Esterházy, widow of Prince Paul Anton II who died three days after Haydn's departure from Vienna. In 1791 he met Rebecca Schroeter, widow of a highly regarded keyboard teacher in London. She studied with Haydn and the two developed a lively correspondence. Rebecca's 21 letters to the composer during the London visit of 1791 express a growing affection for Haydn, which he reciprocated. To her he dedicated the Trios in D Major and F-sharp minor.