Thomas A'Becket (composer)

Thomas a'Becket (March 17, 1808 - January 6, 1890) was an actor and musician credited with writing the music and the words, in 1843, to "Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean".[1] Born in Chatham, England, A'Becket came to the United States in 1837 and spent much of his life in Philadelphia.[2] At one time, he served as the stage manager of the actor Edwin Booth and for many years was the director of the Walnut Street Theatre, in Philadelphia, where he also had a long acting career. During his early years in America, he gave music lessons and sang in operas.

He died in Philadelphia from heart failure and was buried in the Fernwood Cemetery, west of the city..[1] His diaries are in deposit at the New York Public Library.[3] (Only one photograph of him is known to exist, and it is in Widener Library, of Harvard University.) His son, Thomas a'Becket, Jr. (1843-1918), was also a musician and, in his youth, worked with John Philip Sousa.

Despite the great renown of "Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean," A'Becket never received any fame from having composed it. This is quite probably because of the confusion over the anthem's authorship.

References
  1. "A'Becket Family". snacooperative.org. SNAC. Retrieved September 26, 2017.
  2. Fuld, James. The Book of World-famous Music: Classical, Popular, and Folk. Courier. p. 177. ISBN 0486414752.
  3. "A'BECKET FAMILY DIARIES AND PROMPT BOOKS, 1840-1890" (PDF). nypl.org. New York Public Library. Retrieved September 26, 2017.
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