The New Student's Reference Work/Smith, Samuel Francis

Smith, Samuel Francis, an American clergyman, was born at Boston, Mass., in 1808. He served as pastor of Baptist churches in Waterville, Me., Newton and Boston, Mass., and edited The Christian Review and other Baptist periodicals. He is known as the author of several hymns, but especially of the national hymn, My Country 'tis of Thee, which he wrote in 1832, while a theological student at Andover. A Baptist hymn-book contains 27 of his hymns. He died on Nov. 16, 1895. Dr. Holmes said of him: “Fate tried to conceal him by naming him Smith, but he shouted a song: My Country, of Thee.”