Thomas Hastings

Place: Washington

Born: 1784

Death: 1872

Biography:

Thomas Hastings was an American composer and musician. He is best known for composing the tune 'Toplady' for the hymn 'Rock of Ages'. Born on October 15, 1784, in Washington, Connecticut, he began his career as a singing teacher and later moved to Clinton, New York. Hastings compiled several books of hymns, including 'Musica Sacra' and 'Spiritual Songs', which included his most well-known hymn 'Rock of Ages'. He served as a choir master for 40 years in New York City from 1832 to 1872. Hastings was a prolific composer, writing some 1000 hymn tunes over his career, and his style remains influential on Protestant church hymns.