Scottish minister, Hymn writer. Birthplace: Glasgow, Scotland. He was educated at Glasgow Academy and the University of Glasgow. While in school, he wore powerful glasses and sat close to a window so he could have the best light. By the age of twenty, he was totally blind and became known as "The Blind Preacher." Although he was not a musical person, Matheson wrote ten hymns. His hymn "O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go" was the quickest bit of work ever wrote. He says "My hymn was composed in the manse of Inneian [Argyleshire, Scotland] on the evening of the 6th of June, 1882, when I was 40 years of age. I was alone in the manse at that time. It was the night of my sister's marriage, and the rest of the family were staying overnight in Glasgow. Something happened to me, which was known only to myself, and which caused me the most severe mental suffering. The hymn was the fruit of that suffering. I had the impression of having it dictated to me by some inward voice rather than of working it out myself. I am quite sure that the whole work was completed in five minutes, and equally sure that it never received at my hands any retouching or correction. I have no natural gift of rhythm. All the other verses I have ever written are manufactured articles; this came like a dayspring from on high." In 1885, he was invited to preach for Queen Victoria by the Queen herself. He preached a sermon titled " The Patience of Job." The Queen was so moved by his sermon, that she requested he have it printed and published. Matheson had a great impact on the world, but it was not because of any great writing , preaching, or his ability to overcome his limitations. Matheson realized that the greatest gift he could give to the world was his own close friendship with Christ.