Sherwin, William Fiske 1826 - 1888

Sherwin, William Fiske, an American Baptist was born on March 14, 1826 in Buckland, Massachusetts. At the age of fifteen he went to Boston and studied music under Dr. Mason. In due time he became a teacher of vocal music and held several important appointments in Massachusetts; in Hudson and Albany, New York County and then in New York City. He was particularly interested in Sunday schools and composed mainly for their use Christmas carols and hymns. He was associated with Rev. R. Lowry and others in the preparation of Bright Jewels and other popular hymn and melody books for Sunday School. Some of his melodies are known in the UK through Ira D. Sankey's ''Sacred Songs and Solos''. Sherwin died on April 14, 1888 in Boston, Massachusetts.

From: A Dictionary of Hymnology (1907) edited by John Julian