Katharine Lee Bates (August 12, 1859 – March 28, 1929) was an influential American author, poet, and educator, best known for penning the lyrics to the iconic song "America the Beautiful." Born in Falmouth, Massachusetts, Bates was the daughter of a Congregational minister who passed away shortly after her birth. Raised by her mother and a literary aunt, both graduates of Mount Holyoke Seminary, she was afforded a strong educational foundation.

Bates attended Wellesley College, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in 1880. She began her teaching career at Natick High School and Dana Hall School before returning to Wellesley College, where she became a professor of English literature. Her academic contributions included pioneering the study of American literature as an academic discipline and authoring one of the first college textbooks on the subject.

Her most famous work, "America the Beautiful," was inspired by a trip to Colorado in 1893, where the view from Pikes Peak moved her to write the poem. It was first published in The Congregationalist on July 4, 1895, and quickly gained popularity. The poem underwent revisions and was eventually set to music by Samuel A. Ward's "Materna."

Bates was also a prolific writer, contributing to various periodicals and authoring works that included social reform themes. Her poem "Goody Santa Claus on a Sleigh Ride" popularized the character of Mrs. Claus. In addition to her literary achievements, Bates was actively involved in social reform, labor reform, and the founding of the New England Poetry Club.

Throughout her life, Bates shared a close partnership with Katharine Coman, a fellow academic and social reformer, with whom she lived for 25 years. Their relationship has been described as a "romantic friendship" or a "Boston marriage."

Bates passed away in Wellesley, Massachusetts, and was laid to rest in Oak Grove Cemetery in her hometown of Falmouth. Her legacy endures through her contributions to literature, education, and social reform.