The New Student's Reference Work/Muhlenberg, William Augustus

Muhlenberg (mū'len-bẽrg}, William Augustus, an American divine, noted as a hymn-writer, was born at Philadelphia, Sept. 16, 1796. He graduated at the University of Pennsylvania in 1814, and became an Episcopal clergyman. Soon after becoming rector of a New York church, he set about getting funds to found St. Luke's Hospital, and it was due to his untiring efforts that the present great hospital on Fifth Avenue was built, Dr. Muhlenberg becoming its superintendent. He was the author of the well-known hymn, I Would Not Live Alway, and edited several collections of church-music. He died at New York, April 8, 1877.