Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me

Full Name: Edward Hopper
Birth/Death: 1816–1888

Edward Hopper, D.D., was born in New York City in 1816, the son of a merchant. He graduated from Union Theological Seminary, New York, and devoted his life to pastoral ministry and hymn writing. He served at the Greenville Presbyterian Church, the Sag Harbor Presbyterian Church on Long Island, and most notably at the Church of Sea and Land in New York City, a congregation focused on seafarers, where he remained for the rest of his life. The church building was for a time shared with the First Chinese Presbyterian Church.

Hopper was an accomplished author and poet. Among his best-known hymns is Jesus, Savior, pilot me, which he originally wrote eight years prior to composing a verse for the Seamen’s Friend Society anniversary; the poem was later set to music by John Edgar Gould. Other hymns include They pray the best who pray and watch and Wrecked and struggling in mid-ocean. His works have been translated into multiple languages including German, Spanish, Portuguese, Hawaiian, Norwegian, and Chinese, reflecting their enduring influence on global Christian worship.

Hopper remained active in writing and pastoral work until his death in 1888, passing away from a heart attack while composing a poem about heaven at his desk. His legacy endures through his hymns, particularly as a source of comfort and guidance for mariners and congregations worldwide.