Thomas a'Becket (March 17, 1808 – January 6, 1890), born in Chatham, Kent, England, was an actor and musician credited with writing the music and the words, in 1843, to "Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean." Becket travelled to the United States in 1837 and spent much of his life in Philadelphia. During his early years in the United States, he gave music lessons and sang in operas. At one time, he served as the stage manager of the actor Edwin Forrest and for many years was the director of the Walnut Street Theatre, in Philadelphia, where he also had a long acting career.
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Contributed by:
Aharon N. Varady (transcription), Gershon Rosenzweig (translation), Thomas A'Becket, Sr.
“Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean” (originally “Columbia, the Land of the Brave”) was an American patriotic song popular in the United States during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Adapted by Thomas A’Becket, Sr. around 1843 from the British patriotic song “Britannia, the Pride of the Ocean”, Columbia was long used as an unofficial national anthem of the United States, in competition with other songs. . . .
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