John Goss

About

English composer known for "Praise my Soul, the King of Heaven" and "See, Amid the Winter's Snow," both hymns. He was said to be among the last English composers to focus exclusively on ecclesiastical music.

Before Fame

He was a choir singer for the Chapel Royal in London and later studied with St. Paul's Cathedral organist Thomas Attwood.

Trivia

He was knighted and received an honorary doctorate from Cambridge in 1876.

Family Life

He married Lucy Emma Nerd in 1821, to whom he dedicated "Wert Thou Like Me," a romantic song with lyrics by Walter Scott.

Associated With

He taught many future notables while professor of harmony at the Royal Academy of Music, including Arthur Sullivan.