George Hunt Smyttan

George Hunt Smyttan (1822–1870) was an English clergyman and poet whose life was marked by dedicated service and a deeply tragic conclusion. Born into a prominent family, his father served on the Bombay Medical Board, he was educated at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. After taking holy orders, he was appointed Rector of Hawksworth, Nottinghamshire, in 1850, a position he held for nearly a decade.

Contributions to Hymnody

Smyttan is best remembered for his enduring Lenten hymn, "Forty days and forty nights." First published in 1856, the hymn is a staple of the Christian liturgical calendar, particularly during the season of Lent. It vividly recounts Christ's temptation in the wilderness and serves as a somber exhortation to fasting and prayer.

His other notable works include:

• "Jesu, ever present with Thy Church below": A communion hymn that reflects his High Church sensibilities, published in the 2nd edition of Lyra Eucharistica (1864).

• Literary Volumes: He published several collections, including Thoughts in Verse for the Afflicted (1849) and Mission Songs and Ballads (1860).

A Pathetic End

The final years of Smyttan's life were shrouded in obscurity. After resigning his rectory in 1859, he traveled to the European continent. In February 1870, he died suddenly and alone in Frankfurt-on-the-Main, Germany. Because he was unknown to the local authorities and no relatives could be reached, the man who wrote one of Christendom's most famous hymns was buried in an unmarked "poor man's grave."

Decades later, a chaplain searching for his resting place discovered that his grave had been reused, with a new cross marking the spot for another individual buried above him. Despite this lonely and anonymous end, his voice continues to be heard every spring in churches worldwide as congregations sing his verses of endurance and spiritual discipline.