George Frederick Root

About

Known for composing war songs The First Gun is Fired and The Battle Cry of Freedom during the American Civil War.

Before Fame

He once worked as a church organist.

Trivia

He was posthumously inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970.

Family Life

He married Mary Olive Woodman in 1845. They had six children together.

Associated With

He learned how to play the piano as a young boy just like Jule Styne.