Henry Clay Work
American composer and songwriter (1832-1884) · United States · On the map · Musicians · Died at 51
Henry Clay Work was an American songwriter and composer. He is best remembered for his musical contributions to the Union in the Civil War - songs documenting the afflictions of slavery, the hardships of army life, and Northern triumphs in the conflict.
Henry Clay Work is read about 44 times a day, in 8 languages.
A typical day, 30 days to 13 June 2026
The middle day of the days counted, so one week of news cannot move it. The line under it is the last 60 days, one point a day.
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Media & music
Photos 9
![\n[[File:Henry Clay Work signature (alternate version).png|200px]]"}},"i":0}}]}" id="mwDQ">Work in his posthumously published collection of songs](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b7/Henry_Clay_Work%2C_1884_%28alternate_version%29.png/330px-Henry_Clay_Work%2C_1884_%28alternate_version%29.png)
\n[[File:Henry Clay Work signature (alternate version).png|200px]]"}},"i":0}}]}" id="mwDQ">Work in his posthumously published collection of songs
Routes of the Underground Railroad, through which Alanson Work helped manumit fugitive slaves
George F. Root of Root & Cady in 1860, with whom Work collaborated throughout the Civil War
Sheet music cover of "The Ship That Never Returned"
Destruction of Root & Cady's music store in the first floor of Crosby's Opera House during the Great Chicago Fire of 1871
A bust of Work near his birthplace in Middletown
Plymouth Church in Brooklyn which Work routinely attended while residing there
Work's cottage at Hyde ParkAbout this person
Besides patriotic pieces, he composed sentimental ballads, some of which promoted the growing temperance movement. Many of Work's compositions were performed at minstrel shows and Civil War veteran reunions. Although largely forgotten nowadays, he was one of the most successful musicians of his time, comparable to Stephen Foster and George F. Root in sales and sheer influence.
