“My Country ´tis of Thee”, also known as “America” is an American patriotic song. The melody of “My Country ´tis of Thee” is the same as the British national anthem and the German Kaiserhymne. The lyrics were written by Samuel F. Smith, Reverend of Boston Park Street, in 1831. He was approached by his friend Lowell Mason who had some German school music books he could not read. Mason wanted his friend to either translate or write a new text for the tunes. One tune struck Smith; it was the melody of the Kaiserhymne (emperor´s hymn) and God save the King/Queen. “My Country ´tis of Thee” was first sung in public at a Sunday school celebration of American independence at Park Street Church in Boston on 4. July 1832.
Dr. Smith visited the Board of Trade in Chicago in May of 1887. Whilst sitting in the gallery he was pointed out and soon became the centre of notice. The trading on the floor stopped and the familiar words “My Country ´tis of Thee” were heard. After two verses had been sung Dr. Smith  was escorted to the wheat-pit through a passage in the cheering crowd and then the rest of the hymn was sung. The song served as a de facto national anthem for much of the 19th century.