Clergyman; born in
Boston, Mass., Oct. 21, 1808; graduated at Harvard College in 1829, and at Andover Theological Seminary in
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1832; was ordained minister of the Baptist church at
Waterville, Me., in 1834, where he remained eight years, during a part of which time he was president of Waterville College.
In 1842 he removed to
Newton, Mass., and for six years, besides being pastor of the Baptist church
at that place, he edited
The Christian review, of
Boston.
From 1848 to 1869 he was the editor of various
Baptist publications, and during the same time performed a large amount of literary labor.
In 1875-76, and also in 1880-82, he visited the Old World and made extensive tours, examining the chief missionary stations in
Europe and
Asia.
It was while a student at the theological school that he wrote the famous hymn, now known and sung in every part of
America:
My country, 'tis of thee,
Sweet land of liberty,
Of thee I sing:
Land where my fathers died,
Land of the pilgrims' pride,
From every mountain-side
Let freedom ring!
It was written for a children's celebration of July 4 in Park Street Church,
Boston, in 1832, and was first sung there.
Mr. Smith died in
Boston, Mass., Nov. 16, 1895.
