Clergyman, Author, Poet. Edmund Hamilton Sears was born the youngest of three sons in western Massachusetts, where his family ran a farm. His father Joseph instilled in him a love of reading beginning in his childhood. The elder Sears was a respected member of the community and was given several public roles, leaving Edmund and another son in charge of farm duties. In 1831, Edmund left to attend Union College in New York, followed by Cambridge Divinity School. His career as a clergyman began as a missionary in 1837 in Toledo. In 1839, he returned to Massachusetts to preach in Wayland, Massachusetts, then in Lancaster. It was in 1839 that he married Ellen Bacon, with whom he had four children. In 1849, he published the five stanza poem "It Came Upon the Midnight Clear," now a traditional Christmas carol sung to a tune written by Richard Storrs Willis. In 1865, Sears accepted a pastorate in Weston. His literary career began as a co-editor of a religious magazine, though he had published a few poems while in college. He also wrote several religious themed books in rapid succession, including: "Regeneration" (1853), "Pictures of the Olden Time" (1857), "Athanasia" (1857), "Christian Lyrics" (1860), "The Fourth Gospel: The Heart of Christ" (1872), "Sermons and Songs of the Christian Life" (1875), "Christ in the Life" (1876), and "That Glorious Song of Old" was published posthumously. In the 1870s, an injury left him in pain for the rest of his life.

Clergyman, Author, Poet. Edmund Hamilton Sears was born the youngest of three sons in western Massachusetts, where his family ran a farm. His father Joseph instilled in him a love of reading beginning in his childhood. The elder Sears was a respected member of the community and was given several public roles, leaving Edmund and another son in charge of farm duties. In 1831, Edmund left to attend Union College in New York, followed by Cambridge Divinity School. His career as a clergyman began as a missionary in 1837 in Toledo. In 1839, he returned to Massachusetts to preach in Wayland, Massachusetts, then in Lancaster. It was in 1839 that he married Ellen Bacon, with whom he had four children. In 1849, he published the five stanza poem "It Came Upon the Midnight Clear," now a traditional Christmas carol sung to a tune written by Richard Storrs Willis. In 1865, Sears accepted a pastorate in Weston. His literary career began as a co-editor of a religious magazine, though he had published a few poems while in college. He also wrote several religious themed books in rapid succession, including: "Regeneration" (1853), "Pictures of the Olden Time" (1857), "Athanasia" (1857), "Christian Lyrics" (1860), "The Fourth Gospel: The Heart of Christ" (1872), "Sermons and Songs of the Christian Life" (1875), "Christ in the Life" (1876), and "That Glorious Song of Old" was published posthumously. In the 1870s, an injury left him in pain for the rest of his life.

Bio by: Midnightdreary