Karl Wilhelm (conductor)

Karl Wilhelm, Carl Wilhelm, ( born September 5, 1815 in Schmalkalden; † August 26, 1873 in Schmalkalden ) was a German choral conductor. He is known as the composer of the song Die Wacht am Rhein.

William was a pupil of Aloys Schmitt. He was from 1841 to 1864 director of the Krefeld Liedertafel. In 1853 he was admitted to the League of Freemasons.

In Krefeld he set in 1854, in 1840, written by Max snails Burger poem Die Wacht am Rhein. In recognition of the success and the national importance of this song, he received numerous honors and medals next on June 24, 1871 personal letter of recognition of Chancellor Otto von Bismarck. From the same year he received from the German government an annual donation of 3,000 marks, which was more than four times that of a former worker wages.

From 1865 to William worked as Musikverein in conductor Schmalkalden.