Kreutzer made the acquaintance of Beethoven in 1798, when at Vienna in the service of the French ambassador, Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte (later King of Sweden and Norway).

Kreutzer was born in Versailles, and was initially taught by his German father, who was a musician in the royal chapel,[3] with later lessons from Anton Stamitz.

He embedded with the Army of Italy under the command of Napoleon Bonaparte in 1797, charged with copying Italian musical manuscripts and returning them to France as trophies.

He died in Geneva[3] and is buried in Paris at the Père Lachaise Cemetery.

Kreutzer was well known for his style of bowing, his splendid tone, and the clearness of his execution.