George Frederick Root

Composer, born in Sheffield, Massachusetts, USA. He received musical training in Boston before teaching singing at several colleges in New York in the 1840s. In 1853 he co-founded the New York Normal Institute to train music teachers, and in 1859 moved to Chicago where, in addition to teaching music, he was a music publisher until 1871. He composed a number of cantatas popular in their day, and under the name G Frederick Wurzel he began to write popular songs. ‘The Battle Cry of Freedom’ (1863) was the first of several celebrated Civil War songs, including ‘Tramp, Tramp, Tramp, the Boys are Marching’ and ‘The Vacant Chair’.

George Frederick Root (30 August 1820 – 6 August 1895) was a popular American songwriter during the American Civil War and the author of the very popular song in 1862 entitled The Battle Cry of Freedom.

He was born at Sheffield, Massachusetts. As a young boy growing up in Boston, Root was trained on the piano by George J.

As a respected musician, Root toured Europe in 1850. Root began working as a songwriter for minstrel songs in 1851 under the pseudonym "G. Friedrich Wurzel" (a German word meaning "Root").

From 1853-58, Root lived in New York collaborating with other songwriters such as Mary S. In 1859, he moved the family to Chicago to join his older brothers' publishing company, Root &

Influenced by the Civil War, Root’s music shifted from popular standards to war songs. Other songs composed during this time include: Just Before the Battle, Mother, Just After the Battle, Tramp, Tramp, Tramp, On, On, On the Boys Came Marching and The Vacant Chair.

Root continued working for Root &

Root died on August 6, 1895, at his summer home in Bailey Island, Maine, age 74. His greatest composition “The Battle Cry of Freedom” continues to inspire American patriots and has been acknowledged as one of the most great freedom songs of all time.

Root was inducted into the Songwriters' Hall of Fame in 1970.