Francis Tatton Latour, born Corneil François Taton on 3 March 1767 in Saint-Omer, passed away on 26 April 1845 in Paris. He is also recognized by the names "Jean Théodore Latour" and "Theodore Latour." A multifaceted French pianist, composer, arranger, pedagogue, music publisher, and entrepreneur, Latour was particularly active in London from 1792 to 1837. He was a founding member and former director of the [Philharmonic Society of London](https://www.example.com). Among his significant contributions, Latour is best known as one of the three co-founders of the esteemed [Chappell & Co.](https://www.example.com) / [Chappell Piano Company](https://www.example.com), alongside Samuel Chappell (circa 1782–1834) and the celebrated pianist and composer Johann Baptist Cramer (1771–1858). This company remains operational over 210 years later as [Warner/Chappell](https://www.example.com). Variations of his name include Jean Theodore Latour, T. Latour, and Corneil François Taton.

Corneil Taton began his musical career in France, where he served as the organist at the Sainte-Marguerite cathedral in his hometown during the mid-1780s. He married in October 1786, a time when he began adopting the pseudonym "Francis Theodore Latour." The exact meaning and origins of this name are uncertain; 'Latour' was a common French surname meaning "tower" and was associated with various locations. Occasionally, he included "Tatton" with a double "𝓉𝓉" as a middle name for reasons that remain unclear.

By 1792, Francis Latour had relocated to London, escaping the turmoil of the French Revolution. Amidst a large influx of French immigrants in Britain, he soon connected with noble families and aristocratic households, offering his services as a piano tutor. Latour excelled not only in teaching but also in diplomacy, eventually becoming a court pianist for Prince Regent George Augustus Frederick (1762–1830), who later became King George IV.

In 1811, F.T. Latour accepted an invitation from the young entrepreneur Sam Chappell, who had just turned 30, to join his newly formed company. With an opulent two-story showroom on Bond Street, Chappell & Co. showcased a variety of fortepianos and other musical instruments from leading European manufacturers, in addition to a vast selection of piano sheet music and related literature. Latour collaborated with [J.B. Cramer](https://www.example.com), focusing primarily on the publishing aspect of the business. Over the ensuing decade, the two built an extensive catalog, establishing Chappell & Co. as a prominent publisher in London, recognized for its critical and commercial success.

In 1826, Latour parted ways with Chappell to pursue a solo career in publishing, launching his own imprint, "F.T. Latour." This move mirrored John Cramer’s departure to found [Cramer & Co.](https://www.example.com), another publishing house and piano manufacturer. Meanwhile, Chappell Music continued to solidify its position as a market leader. From 1834 until approximately 1843, the company was managed by Samuel's eldest son William Chappell (1809–1888). Interestingly, it was J.B. Cramer who persuaded William to leave the family business and join his firm. Despite achieving some success and recognition, neither Cramer nor Latour ever reached the level of growth attained by Chappell, which, under the leadership of William's younger brother Thomas Patey Chappell (1819–1902) and later Louis (1877–1967) and Max Dreyfus (1874–1964), became one of the leading labels in the record industry. Chappell was purchased by [PolyGram](https://www.example.com) in 1968 for £20 million and subsequently acquired by US conglomerate [Warner Bros.](https://www.example.com) in 1987 for over $200 million, eventually becoming part of the [Warner Music Group](https://www.example.com), now the third-largest record company following [Universal Music Group](https://www.example.com) and [Sony Music Entertainment](https://www.example.com). After 1830, Latour closed his London firm and returned to France, where he spent the remainder of his life in Paris.