Eugène Léon Vivier

Eugène Léon Vivier (1821–1900)[1] was a French horn player, admired by Napoleon III.

On his recommendation, Vivier visited London in 1848, where he appeared at the Wednesday Concerts at Exeter Hall.

From 1870 he was a favourite of Napoleon III, who gave him sinecures, including an inspectorship of mines.

[1][2] He was known for playing practical jokes: an obituarist wrote that "in their day they were the talk of Europe".

[3] He published in 1900 an autobiography, said to be largely fictitious, La Vie e les Aventures d'un Corniste.