Nahum Tate
1652–1715 · England · Baroque
Nahum Tate (1652-1715) was an English poet and hymnodist who served as Poet Laureate of England from 1692 until his death. He is best known for his collaborative work with Nicholas Brady on the New Version of the Psalms (1696), a metrical psalter that significantly influenced Protestant worship in England and America for centuries. Tate authored numerous Christmas carol texts and other hymn lyrics that became standards in the Anglican tradition, including "While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks" and "As Pants the Hart." His poetic innovations in psalm versification made biblical texts more accessible and singable for congregational worship. Tate's contributions to hymnody established him as one of the most influential English-language hymn writers of the Restoration period.