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During the War of 1812, Key, accompanied by the American Prisoner Exchange Agent Col. John Stuart Skinner, dined aboard the British ship HMS Tonnant, as the guests of Vice Admiral Alexander Cochrane, Rear Admiral Sir George Cockburn and Major General Robert Ross. They were there to negotiate the release of a prisoner, Dr. William Beanes. A resident of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, Beanes had been captured by the British after he placed rowdy stragglers under citizen's arrest with a group of men. Skinner, Key and Beanes were allowed to return to their own sloop, but were not allowed to return to Baltimore because they had become familiar with the strength and position of the British units and of the British intention to attack Baltimore. As a result of this, Key was unable to do anything but watch the bombarding of Ft. McHenry during the Battle of Baltimore, and was inspired to write a poem describing the experience. Entitled "The Defense of Fort McHenry", intended to fit the rhythms of composer John Stafford Smith's "To Anacreon in Heaven", it has become better known as "The Star Spangled Banner". Under this name, the song was adopted as the American national anthem, first by an Executive Order from President Woodrow Wilson in 1916 (which had little effect beyond requiring military bands to play it,) and then by a Congressional resolution in 1931, signed by President Herbert Hoover.

Credits: Wikipedia.com

The Star-Spangled Banner

by Francis Scott Key


Oh say can you see,
by the dawn's early light,
what so proudly we hailed,
at the twilight's last gleaming?

Whose broad stripes and bright stars,
through the perilous fight,
o’er the ramparts we watched,
were so gallantly streaming.

And the rocket's red glare,
The bombs bursting in air
gave proof through the night,
that our flag was still there.

Oh say does that star spangled banner yet wave,
O'er the land of the free,
and the home of the brave?