Alfred A. Woodhull

Woodhull, Alfred Alexander, M.D., grandson of John Woodhull, D.D., of Freehold, New Jersey; was born March 25, 1810, educated for the medical profession, and practiced at Princeton, where he died Oct. 5, 1836. His hymn, “God of the passing year to Thee," appeared as No. 406 in the official edition of Presbyterian Psalms & Hymns, Princeton, in 1829. It has attained to extensive use in the altered form as "Great God of nations, now to Thee." Its authorship was determined by Dr. Hatfield, in his Church Hymn Book, 1872, No. 1295. It is an American National Thanksgiving hymn. [Rev. F. M. Bird, M.A.]

-- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)