François de Fossa, born in Perpignan in 1775, fought as a soldier in Spain against the French invaders and subsequently served in Mexico. He later saw service in France. His work as a composer, generally neglected until recently, includes instrumental music that shows a clear understanding of the possibilities of the guitar.

François De Fossa is beginning to gain notice as a major composer of substantial merit. The solo pieces are advanced and musically rich, and the chamber pieces show Fossa's true capabilities at larger-scale works. Very little guitar music survives, but what remains is superb, including an excellent set of chamber pieces with guitar, and the exceptional Haydn arrangements. Fossa was a friend of Aguado.Fossa was not obliged to make a living at music, and thus held to the highest artistic standards of composition.

De Fossa's three Trios concertan ts for guitar, violin and cello, show something of the influence of Boccherini, a resident of Madrid for 37 years, until his death in 1805. This is heard particularly in the handling of the cello in the Trios, while his own knowledge of the guitar is clear from his writing for the instrument. He also wrote a set of quartets with guitar.