Jonathan Edwards Spilman (15 April 1812 – 23 May 1896) was a

Kentucky Kentucky (, ), officially the Commonwealth of Kentucky, is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio to the north, West Virginia to the ...

lawyer, minister, and composer. Jonathan Spilman was born in

Greenville, Kentucky Greenville is a home rule-class city in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky, in the United States. It is the seat of its county. The population was 4,492 as of the 2020 census. History The town was settled in 1799 on an estate donated by local land ...

to Benjamin Spilman and Nancy (Rice) Spilman, and graduated from

Illinois College Illinois College is a private liberal arts college in Jacksonville, Illinois. It is affiliated with the United Church of Christ and the Presbyterian Church (USA). It was the second college founded in Illinois but the first to grant a degree (in ...

in 1835. While at Transylvania Law School, 1837, he wrote the music for

Robert Burns Robert Burns (25 January 1759 – 21 July 1796), also known familiarly as Rabbie Burns, was a Scottish poet and lyricist. He is widely regarded as the List of national poets, national poet of Scotland and is celebrated worldwide. He is the be ...

' " Flow gently, sweet Afton", the best remembered of his seven melodies. An adaptation of this music was used for "

We Hail Thee Carolina "We Hail Thee Carolina" is the alma mater of the University of South Carolina. It was adopted by the university in 1912 and is sung by alumni and students at Gamecock athletic events. The alma mater is also used to conclude each football game, ho ...

", the alma mater of the

University of South Carolina The University of South Carolina (USC, SC, or Carolina) is a Public university, public research university in Columbia, South Carolina, United States. Founded in 1801 as South Carolina College, It is the flagship of the University of South Car ...

. He was married to Mary V.J. Menefee, who died prematurely in 1843. Two years later, on 10 April 1845, he married Eliza Sarah Taylor (1822–1866), a niece of

U.S. President The president of the United States (POTUS) is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president directs the Federal government of the United States#Executive branch, executive branch of the Federal government of t ...

Zachary Taylor Zachary Taylor (November 24, 1784 – July 9, 1850) was an American military officer and politician who was the 12th president of the United States, serving from 1849 until his death in 1850. Taylor was a career officer in the United States ...

. To them were born ten children, of whom six survived: Charles, Louise, William,

Byrd Byrd commonly refers to: * William Byrd (c. 1540 – 1623), an English composer of the Renaissance * Richard E. Byrd (1888–1957), an American naval officer and explorer Byrd or Byrds may also refer to: Other people *Byrd (surname), including ...

, Clara, and Lewis. His wife Eliza died on 10 August 1866, as the result of a fire aboard the steamboat "Bostona No. 3" in

Maysville, Kentucky Maysville is a "Home rule in the United States, home rule" class city in Mason County, Kentucky, Mason County, Kentucky, United States, and is the county seat of Mason County. The population was 8,873 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 ...

. Working as a lawyer for 18 years, he became a

Presbyterian minister Presbyterian (or presbyteral) polity is a method of church governance ("ecclesiastical polity") typified by the rule of assemblies of presbyters, or elders. Each local church is governed by a body of elected elders usually called the session (o ...

at the age of 46. A Historical Marker was erected in the city of Greenville in his memory.

References

Bibliography

*Hoover, Earl Reese: ''J.E. Spilman — Kentucky's long-lost composer of a world-famous melody rediscovered''. Kentucky State Historical Society, 1968.

External links

*
The Seven Melodies of Jonathan Edwards Spilman
* * 1812 births 1896 deaths American male composers People from Greenville, Kentucky Family of Zachary Taylor Musicians from Kentucky 19th-century American composers 19th-century American male musicians {{US-composer-stub