Franz Abt, a German composer, born at Eilenburg, Saxony, Dec. 22, 1819. His early studies were theological, but he abandoned divinity for music, and at the age of 22 became musical director at Zurich. He remained there eleven years, when he became second musical director at the Brunswick court theatre, and was promoted to be first by the grand duke in 1855. He has composed for orchestra, piano, and voice; but it is mainly as a song writer that he has attained his reputation, having composed a great number of songs that have become well known throughout the world. He has also been very successful as a composer of two-part songs, and of four-part songs for male voices. He visited the United States in 1872.