Samuel Francis Smith (October 21, 1808 – November 16, 1895) was an American Baptist minister, journalist, and author. He is best known for having written the lyrics to "My Country, 'Tis of Thee" (sung to the tune of "God Save the King"), which he entitled "America".
Early life and education
Smith was born in Boston, Massachusetts on October 21, 1808.
Smith attended Harvard College from 1825 to 1829, and was a classmate of William Henry Channing, James Freeman Clarke, Benjamin Robbins Curtis, George T. Davis, Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr., Isaac Edward Morse, Benjamin Peirce, George W. Richardson, and Charles Storer Storrow.
From 1829 to 1834, he attended Andover Theological Seminary.
"America" ("My Country, 'Tis of Thee")
thumb|A sketch of Samuel Francis Smith from a life sketch in [[The Express (Illinois newspaper)|The Express]]
While a student at Andover Theological Seminary, Smith gave Lowell Mason lyrics he had written and the song was first performed in public on July 4, 1831, at a children's Independence Day celebration at Park Street Church in Boston. The song, titled "America", was first published by Lowell Mason in The Choir in 1832.
In Newton, Smith became editor of the Christian Review and other publications of the Baptist Missionary Union. He continued his ministry as well, becoming pastor of the First Baptist Church in Newton in the village of Newton Centre. In Newton, Smith bought a house at 1181 Centre Street.
After twelve years as pastor of the Newton Centre church, he became editorial secretary of the BMU and served there for fifteen years.
From 1875 to 1880, he made many trips to Europe, Turkey, India, Ceylon and Burma to visit missionary outposts.
He wrote a history of his adoptive home, entitled History of Newton, Massachusetts, which was published in 1880.
Professor and author Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. recommended Smith as a potential candidate for an honorary Doctor of Letters degree from Harvard University in 1893. Harvard president Charles William Eliot declined, noting that "My Country 'Tis of Thee" was better known for its tune, which Smith did not write, rather than its lyrics. Holmes disagreed, noting that "his song will be sung centuries from now, when most of us and our pipings are forgotten."
Death and burial
thumb|Grave of Samuel Francis Smith, in Newton, Massachusetts|178x178px
Samuel Francis Smith died suddenly on November 16, 1895, while on his way by train to preach in the Boston neighborhood of Readville. He was buried in Newton Cemetery. "America" was among the pieces sung at his funeral. He was survived by his wife and five children.