Gasparo Lnigi Pacifico Spointini, an Italian composer, born at Majolati, near Ancona, Nov. 14, 1774, died there, Jan. 24, 1851. At the age of 13 he entered the conservatory of La Pieta at Naples, and was for a time a teacher there. In 1796 he produced I puntigli delle donne, which was followed during the succeeding 10 years by 12 other operas, tragic and comic. In 1803 he went to Paris, where his first great work, La Vestale, was brought out in December, 1807, and at once established his reputation throughout Europe. It was succeeded in 1809 by another work of equal vigor, Fernando Cortez. The success of these works obtained for Spontini in 1810 the directorship of the Italian opera. He accepted the post of director general of music at the court of Prussia in 1820, and remained at Berlin for 22 years. In 1842 he returned to Paris, and near the close of his life resumed his residence in his native village. He received the title of count of Sant' Andrea from the pope, and that of doctor of philosophy and arts from the university of Halle, and was.made a member of the French institute.