Icons & Visionaries
Samuel Francis Smith
Samuel Francis Smith was an American Baptist minister, journalist, and author, best known for writing the lyrics to “My Country, ‘Tis of Thee,” which he entitled “America.” Born in 1808 in Boston, he studied at Harvard and Andover Theological Seminary. Inspired by German music, he penned the lyrics in 1831, which became America’s national anthem. Smith dedicated his life to ministry, education, and writing hymns. He died in 1895, leaving behind a legacy of patriotism and faith woven into American history.
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 wide
Let freedom ring.
Written in 1832,
January 28, 1895
S.F. Smith
