Wilhelm, Carl 09/05/1815 - 08/26/1873

Carl Wilhelm (* September 5, 1815 in Schmalkalden; † August 26, 1873 ibid.) was a German conductor, choirmaster and composer, his most famous composition is the song ''Die Wacht am Rhein''.

Wilhelm was a student of Aloys Schmitt. He was conductor of the ''Krefelder Liedertafel'' from 1841 to 1864. In 1853 he was accepted into the League of Freemasons [1].

In 1854 in Krefeld he set to music the poem ''Die Wacht am Rhein'' which was written by Max Schneckenburger in 1840. In recognition of the success and the national importance of this song, he received in addition to numerous honors and medals, a personal letter of appreciation from Reich Chancellor Otto von Bismarck on June 24, 1871. From the same year on, he received an annual endowment of 3,000 Marks from the German Reich government which was more than four times the wages of the workers at the time [2].

Another well-known composition is the ''Der Kavallerie Marsch'' (Cavalry March) or Wrangel Marsch'' AM III, 53.

From 1865 Wilhelm was active as conductor of the ''Musikverein'' (Music Society) in Schmalkalden.
Source: Wikipedia

Note: Translated from the German version of WIkipedia into English.