What events made the final years of Hector Berlioz’s life especially sad?

The final years of Hector Berlioz’s life were marked by profound personal sorrow and physical decline. He suffered from debilitating illness, which hindered his activities, and he was deeply affected by the deaths of several loved ones.1

His personal losses included:
* Harriet Smithson: His first wife, from whom he was separated but remained deeply attached to, died in 1854.1
* Maria Recio: His second wife and long-time companion died suddenly in 1862.1
* Louis Berlioz: His only child, a sea captain, died of yellow fever in Havana at the age of 33, a loss that caused Berlioz immense grief during his declining years.1

In addition to these personal tragedies, Berlioz faced professional challenges, as his later life was characterized by significant fame abroad contrasted with persistent hostility toward his work in his home country of France.2