Christian Gottlob Barth was born at Stuttgart on July 31, 1799. He studied theology at the University of Tübingen, where he helped found the student Missionary Society. Entering pastoral work in 1821, he served as pastor of Möttlingen near Calw from 1824 until 1838, when he resigned to devote himself entirely to writing, publishing, and philanthropic labor in Calw. He earned a doctorate in divinity from the University of Greifswald in 1838. Barth was a founder and director of the Calw Tract Society, writing extensively for children and in support of Jewish and overseas missions. His Bible History achieved immense global distribution, reaching 160 editions and being translated into dozens of languages.
Barth composed numerous popular hymns for children and missionary societies. His best-known works include the juvenile hymn "Auf einem Berg ein Bäumlein stand" (translated as "Upon a hill there stands a tree" and "A tree stood on a mountain") and his Basel missionary hymns, "Erhebe dich, du Volk des Herrn" ("Ye people of the Lord, arise!") and "Hüter, ist die Nacht verschwunden" ("Ho! watchman, is the night away"). Barth died at Calw on November 12, 1862.
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