Francis Scott Key (1779-1843) was a highly esteemed practitioner of the law who appeared before the U.S. Supreme Court multiple times throughout his legal career and went on to serve three terms as a U.S. District attorney. Today, however, he is best known as the author of our National Anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

In August of 1814, during the War of 1812, Washington, D.C. was set ablaze by the British. The White House, Capitol Building, and Library of Congress were among the buildings burned in this attack, which became known as the "Burning of Washington." The British advanced from there towards the port city of Baltimore, MD, where they would launch a heavy bombardment on Fort McHenry and its 1,000 Americans, firing over 1,500 cannonballs, shells, and rockets from their offshore war ships.

Before the attack on Fort McHenry, Francis Scott Key learned of the British imprisonment of his acquaintance, Dr. William Beanes, and requested permission from President James Madison to negotiate his release. Key traveled to the British fleet near the mouth of the Potomac River and was able to secure the release of Dr. Beanes, but before they could return to land, the attack on Fort McHenry began.

A year earlier, the commander of Fort McHenry, Major George Armistead, had ordered that an enormous American flag be raised over the fort each morning at reveille. The 30 x 42-foot flag was so large that it could be seen a great distance off the coast.

Key and his party remained aboard their boat throughout the night, as the bombshells flew, and cannons blared. While on that boat, Key began to pen the words of The Star-Spangled Banner. On the morning of September 14, 1814, Fort McHenry stood strong, evident by the enormous American flag raised over the fort.

The Star-Spangled Banner was adopted as our National Anthem in March of 1931. The fourth and final verse acknowledges the hand of God in the preservation of our great nation:

Oh thus be it ever, When freemen shall stand,

Between their loved homes, And the war’s desolation,

Blest with vict'ry and peace, May the heav'n rescued land,

Praise the Pow’r that hath made, And preserved us a nation,

Then conquer we must, When our cause it is just,

And this be our motto, “in God is our trust,”

And the star-spangled banner, In triumph shall wave,

O’er the land of the free, And the home of the brave.