Who invented the French horn?

Two people are credited with the invention of the French horn: Heinrich Stoelzel and Friedrich Bluhmel. The French horn was invented in the 19th century based on designs that dated back to the 16th century.

Tracing the origins of the French horn to a single inventor has been a subject of debate. A 16th century German musician called Hampel designed slides for a hunting horn to allow it to change keys. The modern French horn was born in the 19th century when the valve system replaced the slides. The name of the horn comes not from the country of origin, but from the fact that the key is pitched in F.