William J. Kirkpatrick
Musician · 1838–1921 · County Tyrone, Ireland
Best known for
Composer
William J. Kirkpatrick was an Irish-born American gospel-song composer and Civil War veteran whose roughly one thousand hymn tunes — among them “Lord, I’m Coming Home,” “He Hideth My Soul,” “’Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus,” and “Jesus Saves” — entered the standard American congregational repertoire and have been recorded across the country, bluegrass, and Southern-gospel traditions for more than a century. He published over sixty hymnbooks across his career.
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- Born William James Kirkpatrick on February 27, 1838, in the Parish of Errigal, Keerogue, County Tyrone, Ireland, to a schoolteacher and amateur musician.
- Family emigrated to Pennsylvania on August 5, 1840, settling first in Duncannon.
- Moved to Philadelphia in 1854 to study music and carpentry; took vocal lessons with Professor T. Bishop and joined the Harmonia and Haydn Sacred Music Societies.
- Published his first collection of hymns, Devotional Melodies, in 1859 with A. S. Jenks.
- Enlisted in the 91st Pennsylvania Volunteers as Fife-Major; served until the position was abolished by general order in October 1862, then returned to carpentry in Philadelphia.
- The death of his first wife in 1878 prompted him to give up carpentry and devote himself to gospel composition full-time.
- Partnered with John R. Sweney; the two published more than 1,000 gospel-hymn songs and more than sixty hymnal books.
- Composed tunes for many Fanny Crosby lyrics, including “He Hideth My Soul,” and wrote both words and music to “Lord, I’m Coming Home.”
- Died at his desk while writing on the morning of September 20, 1921, in Philadelphia, at age 83.
