1826 – 1864

Stephen Foster

American songwriter (1826-1864)

chansonnierlyricistsinger-songwritermusiciansongwriter

Born

1826-07-04, Lawrenceville

Died

1864-01-13

Birthplace state

Pennsylvania

Biography

Stephen Collins Foster, known as "the father of American music", was an American composer known primarily for his parlour and folk music during the Romantic period. Foster wrote more than 200 songs, including "Oh! Susanna", "Hard Times Come Again No More", "Camptown Races", "Old Folks at Home", "My Old Kentucky Home", "Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair", "Old Black Joe", and "Beautiful Dreamer". Many of his compositions remain popular today.

Occupation

Stephen Foster is recorded as a chansonnier, a lyricist, a singer-songwriter, a musician, a songwriter, a singer, a poet, a composer and a writer, born in Pennsylvania (1826–1864).

Connections to Pennsylvania

Stephen Foster was born in Lawrenceville, Pennsylvania in 1826. Explore other notable figures from Pennsylvania, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.

Other notable figures from Pennsylvania›Pennsylvaniahistory ›Historic sites in Pennsylvania›

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Stephen Foster came from Lawrenceville. A full Aubrey report on Lawrenceville pulls together everything the historical record holds about that place, from the first settlers to the twentieth century:

Overview

An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.

The Land

The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.

Geology

The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.

LiDAR Terrain

Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.

Conflict & War

The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.

The Civil War

The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.

The Soldiers

The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.

Native Heritage

The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.

Settlement

Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.

The Community

How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.

Rivers & Rail

The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.

Notable People

The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.

Historical Maps

Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.

Finds & Access

Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.

Literature

The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.

Spotlight

A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.

Points of Interest

The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.

Timeline

The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.

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More notable figures from Pennsylvania

Other historical figures born in Pennsylvania, ranked by historical prominence.

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Frequently asked about Stephen Foster

Who was Stephen Foster?

Stephen Foster was American songwriter (1826-1864), born in Pennsylvania (1826 – 1864).

When and where was Stephen Foster born?

Stephen Foster was born on 1826-07-04 in Lawrenceville.

When did Stephen Foster die?

Stephen died on 1864-01-13.

What was Stephen Foster known for?

Stephen Foster is recorded as a chansonnier, a lyricist, a singer-songwriter, a musician, a songwriter, a singer, a poet, a composer and a writer.

Source

Biographical content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source: Wikipedia.

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