Brewster Martin Higley VI (November 30, 1823 – December 9, 1911) was an otolaryngologist who became famous for writing "My Western Home." Originally written in 1872 and published under the title "My Western Home" in the Smith County Pioneer in December 1873, this poem later became the original lyrics for the famous American folk song "Home on the Range."
Because Higley wrote "Home on the Range" while living in Smith County, Kansas, and because Kansans felt it described their state very well, the Kansas legislature voted to make "Home on the Range" the official state song on April 8, 1947.