Fanny Crosby was a prolific American poet, lyricist, and composer who lived from 1820 to 1915. Born in Brewster, New York, she was blind from infancy, yet she became one of the most successful hymn writers in history. Throughout her long life, she composed more than 8,000 songs and wrote over 1,000 secular poems. Beyond her musical contributions, she was a dedicated mission worker and an advocate for the education of blind individuals in Washington.