Beethoven has always been one of the most fascinating artists to me. Though he wasn't born deaf, he became deaf at such a tender age that he had no way of truly comprehending the way sound interrelates. Yet, he did anyways. He understood sound in a way that very few have ever understood, and with a disability that would be assumed greatly inhibiting to such an art. I have lived with a lot of adversity in my life and I admire Beethoven for not letting life get the best of him and his passion. Fur Elise was actually the first song I learned to play on both the guitar and piano, and since Beethoven couldn't hear, I learned to play them without sheet music. I wanted to feel what he felt. Interestingly enough I did better figuring it out on the guitar than the piano. His music has such emotion and this has led to a reputation of being quite eccentric.
This is the man:
Joseph Carl Stieler in 1819-20
The following site is pretty comprehensive and gives a lot of information from his compositions, to his students. It is a great reference: http://www.lvbeethoven.com/Bio/BiographyLudwig.html
http://www.beethoven-haus-bonn.de/sixcms/detail.php?template=portal_en
This site gives an extensive tutorial of everything having to do with Beethoven that could be digitally preserved. From songs to his signature. It is a fascinating site. Check it out.
For a simple chronological list of his compositions check out this site:
http://www.allmusic.com/artist/ludwig-van-beethoven-mn0000536126/compositions