James Pierpont

James Pierpont (1822–1893) was an American songwriter, arranger, organist, best known for writing and composing Jingle Bells. He was born on April 25, 1822 in Boston. 10-years old, he was sent to a boarding school in New Hampshire. In 1836, James ran away to sea aboard a whaling ship called the Shark. He then served in the US Navy until the age of 21. In 1849, he went to San Francisco during the California Gold Rush. In 1959, James took a post as the organist and music director of the Unitarian congregation church in Savannah, Georgia. To support himself, he also gave organ and singing lessons. In 1859, the Unitarian Church in Savannah closed because of its abolitionist position, which was unpopular in the South. James stayed in Savannah, and at the beginning of the Civil War, joined the Lamar Rangers, which became part of the Fifth Georgia Cavalry of the Confederacy. He also wrote music for the Confederacy when it seceded from the Union, including Our Battle Flag, Strike for the South and We Conquer or Die. After the war, James moved his family to Valdosta, Georgia, where he taught music. In 1869, Pierpont moved to Quitman, Georgia. There he was the organist in the Presbyterian Church, gave private piano lessons and taught at the Quitman Academy, retiring as the head of the Musical Department. Pierpont spent his final days at his son's home in Winter Haven, Florida, where he died on August 5, 1893. In August 1857, his song The One Horse Open Sleigh was published by Oliver Ditson and Company of 277 Washington Street in Boston dedicated to John P. Ordway. The song was originally performed in a Sunday school concert on Thanksgiving in Savannah, Georgia, although it has been claimed that Pierpont wrote it in Medford, Massachusetts in 1850. In 1859, it was re-released with the title Jingle Bells, or The One Horse Open Sleigh. The song was not a hit as Pierpont had originally published it.