Johann Sebastian Bach (QUIZ) Bach's first real position was in 1703 as a court musician to Duke Johann Ernst in Weimar, a large town in Thuringia. Later that year, he accepted the position of organist of St. Boniface Church in Arnstadt. Bach seemed to have a fiery personality and had somewhat of a difficult time getting along with others. This trait became evident beginning with this first position. In 1708, Bach was appointed Court Organist and Concertmaster in Weimar. This position allowed him more professional musicians to work with, more prestige, and an even larger salary. Bach composed quite a bit while in Weimar, including "The Little Organ Book," which remains the standard of teaching for organists to this day. Bach's temperamental personality got the best of him in Weimar, and he was "dismissed" from this position in 1717. He was subsequently hired by Prince Leopold of Anhalt-Cöthen as Kapellmeister. The Prince, who appreciated music and was a musician as well, gave Bach a nice salary and considerable freedom. In 1723, Bach was awarded the position of Cantor for St. Thomas' Lutheran School and Church. This was a highly prestigious post that he would keep until his death in 1750. The usual tensions continued between Bach, who saw himself as a musical leader, and the political factions of the church, who saw him as a schoolmaster. Bach did lose his sight towards the end of his life and allowed himself to be operated on by John Taylor, who had also operated on GF Handel, without success. Bach most likely died from complications from this surgery. Some modern scholars believe he may have died from a stroke. Catharina Dorothea (1708 – 1774) Gottfried Heinrich (1724–63)
Born: March 31,1685, Eisenach, Saxe-Eisenach, Germany
Died: July 28, 1750 Leipzig, Germany
Johann Sebastian Bach was born in Eisenach, Saxe-Eisenach, Germany, to a family of musicians, including his siblings as well as aunts and uncles. His father taught him and his siblings to play the harpsichord and violin. His uncle Johann Christoph Bach (1645-1693) taught Bach to play the organ.
Both of Bach's parents died when he was only 10 years old, at which time he went to live with his brother, Johann Christoph Bach (1671-1721). This elder Bach, who was named after the above uncle, was the organist in Ohrdruf, Germany, and evidently took good care of him and taught him performance and composition.
When Bach was just 14 years, he was awarded a choral scholarship from St. Michael's School in Lüneburg, close to Hamburg, which was one of the largest cities in the Holy Roman Empire. He spent 2 years at the school, and most likely played the organ and harpsichord for the school and church as well singing in the choir. He also most likely was given a very good education, with extensive training in languages such as French and Latin.
In 1706, Bach accepted the position of organist at St. Blasius's in Mühlhausen. This position afforded him better living conditions and a larger salary. It was at this time he married his second cousin, not at all unheard of at this time, Maria Barbara Bach. This union produced 7 children, including important composers in their own right, Wilhelm Friedemann 
In 1720, Bach's first wife died. In 1721, he met and married Anna Magdalena Wilcke, one of his students. She was a singer who was 17 years his younger. This union produced 13 more musical children. It has been speculated the Anna Magdalena wrote some of Bach's compositions under his name, but this is not proven.
After his death, the widow Anna Magdelena became reliant on charitable contributions, which again was not unheard of at that time. Her sons apparently did not help her financially. She died a pauper and was buried in an unmarked grave.
Bach's surviving children from his first marriage to Maria Barbara:
Wilhelm Friedemann (1710 – 1784)
Carl Philipp Emanuel (81714 – 1788)
Johann Gottfried Bernhard (1715 – 1739)
Bach's surviving children from his second marriage to Anna Magdalena:
Elisabeth Juliana Friederica, called "Lieschen" (1726–81)
Johann Christoph Friedrich, the 'Bückeburg' Bach (1732–95)
Johann Christian, the 'London' Bach (1735–82)
Johanna Carolina (1737–81)
Regina Susanna (1742–1809)