Foster, Stephen Collins (1826-1864)

US songwriter. He wrote 175 sentimental popular songs including ‘The Old Folks at Home’ (1851), ‘My Old Kentucky Home’ (1853), and ‘Beautiful Dreamer’ (1864), and rhythmic minstrel songs such as ‘Oh! Susanna’ (1848) and ‘Camptown Races’ (1850).

Born in Lawrenceville, Pennsylvania, he had no formal training in music but began to write early, and published his first song as early as 1842. Although many of his songs became very popular and profitable, he mismanaged his career and spent the last years of his life in debt.