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American composer, music educator, and music publisher best known for his popular songs during the American Civil War, particularly "The Battle Cry of Freedom" and "Tramp! Tramp! Tramp! (The Boys Are Coming)".Root began his career in Boston, teaching and composing. He moved to New York to teach at the New York Institute for the Blind, collaborating with Lowell Mason. Later, he co-founded the Chicago-based music publishing firm Root & Cady. His patriotic songs became anthems for the Union cause during the Civil War. He also composed cantatas, sacred music, and numerous instructional songs for schools, significantly influencing American music education.

• Root sometimes published songs in Europe under the pseudonym 'G. Friedrich Wurzel' (the German translation of 'root').
• The Great Chicago Fire of 1871 destroyed the Root & Cady publishing house and warehouses, causing immense financial loss and destroying many of his manuscripts.
• Despite the fire, Root rebuilt his career and continued composing and teaching until his death.
• He died of pneumonia in 1895, reportedly after swimming in a cold lake while vacationing in Maine.