John Howard Payne
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John Howard Payne (9 June 1791 - 10 April 1852) was an American actor and playwright. He is today most remembered as the author of "Home Sweet Home", a song he wrote in 1822.
John Howard Payne was romantically infatuated with Mary Shelley, the author of Frankenstein. She, however, had no interest in him, other than a literary one.
After spending nearly twenty years in Europe, Payne returned to the United States, where he developed a strong interest in the Cherokee Indians. Shortly after 1832, Payne went to live with the famous Cherokee Chief John Ross. Payne collected the myths and traditions of the Cherokees and reported his findings in magazine articles.
In 1842 John Payne was appointed by President Tyler to be the American consul at Tunis in Africa. Payne died in Tunis in 1852. He is buried in Oak Hill Cemetery, Washington DC [[1]].
John Howard Payne was inducted into the Songwriters' Hall of Fame in 1970.
