Isaac Watts (1674-1748) was an English hymn writer, theologian and poet, not primarily a composer. His name appears in the Pristine catalogue because his texts became central to English-language hymnody.

Watts wrote the words to hymns including Joy to the World, When I Survey the Wondrous Cross and O God, Our Help in Ages Past. These texts were later joined to tunes by various composers and arrangers.

His importance is literary, devotional and musical by association. Watts helped give Protestant hymn singing a new poetic directness and emotional range.

This page is therefore best understood as a hymn-text source rather than a composer biography. The music belongs elsewhere, but the words have rung through centuries of song.