Jonathan Edwards Spilman (15 April 1812 – 23 May 1896) was a Kentucky lawyer, minister, and composer.
While at Transylvania Law School, 1837, he wrote the music for Robert Burns' "Flow gently, sweet Afton", the best remembered of his seven melodies.
[1] To them were born ten children, of whom six survived: Charles, Louise, William, Byrd, Clara, and Lewis.
[2] His wife Eliza died on 10 August 1866, as the result of a fire aboard the steamboat "Bostona No.
[3][4] Working as a lawyer for 18 years, he became a Presbyterian minister at the age of 46.