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

Kentucky Kentucky ( , ), officially the Commonwealth of Kentucky, is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States and one of the states of the Upper South. It borders Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio to the north; West Virginia and Virginia to ...

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 4,312 at the 2010 census. History The town was settled in 1799 on an estate donated by local landowner ...

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

Robert Burns Robert Burns (25 January 175921 July 1796), also known familiarly as Rabbie Burns, was a Scottish poet and lyricist. He is widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland and is celebrated worldwide. He is the best known of the poets who hav ...

' " Flow gently, sweet Afton", the best remembered of his seven melodies. An adaptation of this music was used for " We Hail Thee Carolina", the alma mater of the University of South Carolina. 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 of America. The president directs the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States ...

Zachary Taylor Zachary Taylor (November 24, 1784 – July 9, 1850) was an American military leader who served as the 12th president of the United States from 1849 until his death in 1850. Taylor was a career officer in the United States Army, rising to th ...

. 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), includin ...

, 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-class city in Mason County, Kentucky, United States and is the seat of Mason County. The population was 8,782 as of 2019, making it the 51st-largest city in Kentucky by population. Maysville is on the Ohio River, north ...

. 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 or ...

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 Zachary Taylor family Musicians from Kentucky 19th-century American composers 19th-century American male musicians {{US-composer-stub