Karl Wilhelm

Karl Wilhelm was a German choral conductor and composer, best known as the author of the song “The Watch on the Rhine.” He was born on 5 September 1815 in Schmalkalden, Thuringia, Germany, and died there on 26 August 1873.

He studied in Kassel with Louis Spohr, then in Frankfurt am Main with Johann Anton André and Aloys Schmitt.

From 1841 to 1864, Wilhelm directed the Liedertafel in Krefeld. He later led the choral society in Schmalkalden. His pupils included Jacques Hartog.

Wilhelm wrote “The Watch on the Rhine” in 1854 to an earlier text by Max Schneckenburger. His choir first performed it for the silver wedding anniversary of Prince Wilhelm, later Emperor Wilhelm I. In 1871, Wilhelm received an annual government pension of 3,000 marks in recognition of his achievements.