Giulio Briccialdi was a virtuoso flautist, composer, instrument maker and professor. He was born at Terni, in the Papal States on March 2nd 1818. His family had arranged for him to join the priesthood following his father’s death. Horrified, he ran away from home at an early age. His first appointment was to the Santa Cecilia Academy in Rome at the age of 17.

Over the next couple of years he worked in Naples and Milan, and was flute teacher to the King’s brother. Then in 1841 he toured Europe and America, finally settling in London the following year.

In London he become a director of the instrument making firm Rudell and Rose and was responsible for several mechanical developments which are still in use today. He was appointed professor of flute at the Conservatoire in Florence in 1870, and remained there until his death in 1881. In 1996 the asteroid N. 7714 was named in his memory.