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March 1 - Today marks the 209th anniversary of the birth of Poland’s most famous pianist and composer, Fryderyk Chopin. Fryderyk Chopin was born in 1810 in Żelazowa Wola, 46 kilometres (29 miles) west of Warsaw. The composer left Warsaw at age of 20, and could never return. Throughout his life Poland did not exist. It had been swallowed by Russia, Prussia and Austria in 1795, and only re-materialised as an independent country 123 years later in 1918. Chopin’s patriotism found expression in his music, and for Poles it came to symbolise Polish nationalism. His dying wish was for his heart to be removed before burial and to be buried in Poland. Today, his heart is buried in the Holy Cross Church in Warsaw. Here are 15 Facts About Fryderyk Chopin.