Howard Payne

John Howard Payne was an American actor, poet, playwright, and author best known for writing the lyrics to the song 'Home! Sweet Home!' in 1822, which became widely popular. A child prodigy, he edited a theater newspaper at age 14, had a successful theatrical career in London, and later advocated for Native American rights and served as U.S. Consul in Tunis. He wrote or adapted over 60 plays and contributed to early American theater before his death in 1852.