Stephen Collins Foster (July 4, 1826 – January 13, 1864), known as the "father of American music," was the pre-eminent songwriter in the United States of the 19th century. His songs, such as "Oh! Susanna", "Camptown Races", "Old Folks at Home" ("Swanee River"), "Hard Times Come Again No More", "My Old Kentucky Home", "Old Black Joe", and "Beautiful Dreamer", remain popular over 150 years after their composition.

Stephen Foster, who was of Irish descent, was born and lived in Lawrenceville, now part of the city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and grew up as the youngest of ten children in a middle-class family that would eventually become nearly destitute after his father became an alcoholic.

His education included a brief period at Jefferson College (now Washington & Jefferson College) in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, where his grandfather was once a trustee. His tuition was paid, but Foster had little spending money. Sources conflict on whether he left willingly or was dismissed , but either way, he left Canonsburg to visit Pittsburgh with another student and never returned.