These events inspired Key to create a poem titled “Defence of Fort McHenry”. On the morning of September 14th, 1814 the storm flag was lowered and the larger, iconic Star-Spangled Banner flag had been raised. After negotiations Key and Skinner were able to secure the prisoner’s release on British ships with the condition that they could not go ashore until after the British had attacked Baltimore.ĭuring the bombardment Francis Scott Key witnessed Fort McHenry’s storm flag flying in the night. William Beanes, a prominent surgeon that had been captured. The mission involved negotiating a prisoner exchange with the British in an effort to release Dr. In 1814, lawyers Francis Scott Key and John Stuart Skinner were tasked with carrying out a mission approved by President James Madison. Over 200 years later, the song is now the most popular song of American patriotism and the official national song of the U.S. The lyrics of the song come from a poem titled “Defence of Fort McHenry”, written by Francis Scott Key in September, 1814 after witnessing the Battle of Baltimore during the War of 1812. Historic events make way for art that last centuries.The Star-Spangled Banner is the national anthem of the United States of America. Though popular among the American people, “The Star-Spangled Banner” wasn’t adopted as the official anthem of the United States until Congress and President Herbert Hoover signed it into law in 1931.ĭespite what exactly makes an anthem, one thing is for certain. It would take quite a few years for the song to build its legacy, however.

O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave The song’s name came about due to a brave music printer who took the liberty of changing the title to “The Star-Spangled Banner.” The rest, of course, is history. included the heroic verses in their copies. It was printed under the title of “Defence of Fort McHenry,” and newspapers all over the U.S. Odd, no?ĭespite the strange nature of the accompanying music, the song quickly became a hit. What may be strange about the accompanying tune is that it was a familiar drinking song composed by a British composer. The song was linked to the Anacreontic Society, an amateur musician’s and singer’s club named after the Greek poet Anacreon. The historic lyrics started as a poem called “The Defence of Fort McHenry” and were later set to a tune called “The Anacreontic Song,” composed in the late 1700s by a man named John Stafford Smith. Key found inspiration in the large United States flag, known as the Star-Spangled Banner, flying triumphantly above the fort after the U.S. The War of 1812 had just begun, and lawyer/amateur poet Francis Scott Key had just witnessed the destruction of Fort McHenry during the Battle of Baltimore.

But how did the song come to be known as the United States’ national anthem? Raising their hands to their hearts, everyone proudly recites the beloved song from long-instilled memory. We’ve heard Francis Scott Key’s “Star Spangled Banner” millions of times – opening at sports events, at patriotic celebrations, and more. What is it exactly that makes an anthem? Is it the lyrics, the music, the writer? When you think of anthems, one really big one probably comes to mind.

What is the star spangled banner song