February 22

On February 22, 3 anniversaries fall in the history of the hymns in this library: Sarah Flower Adams was born in 1805; James Russell Lowell was born in 1819; Joseph Philbrick Webster was born in 1819.

Each date below is given only where two independent sources — Hymnary.org and Wikidata — agree on the year, and the day itself comes from Wikidata. Dates before the 1750s are given as they were recorded at the time, in the Old Style calendar where that was in use.

Sarah Flower Adams, who was born on this day in 1805, is remembered in this library for the hymn “Nearer, My God, to Thee”.

James Russell Lowell, who was born on this day in 1819, is remembered in this library for the hymn “Once to Every Man and Nation”.

Joseph Philbrick Webster, who was born on this day in 1819, is remembered in this library for the tune SWEET BY AND BY.

Follow a name to read about the writer or composer and to sing their hymns, with the words, chords where we have them, and free accompaniment.