Like so many famous songs of yore, "The Star-Spangled Banner" started as a poem, called “The Defence of Fort McHenry.” It was written by Francis Scott Key in 1814 during the War of 1812.

George Armistead to make a flag for Fort McHenry. This flag, which measured 30 feet by 42 feet, was the original ...

Re “Remove ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ as national anthem ... the British sent a downpour of shells and rockets on Fort McHenry for 25 hours in September 1814. Francis Scott Key was in ...

The Star-Spangled Banner is the national anthem of the United States ... when American lawyer and amateur poet Francis Scott Key set his poem ‘Defence of Fort M’Henry’ to the music. Key was inspired ...

Francis Scott Key witnessed the bombardment from a ship in Baltimore harbor and expressed his gratitude and relief at the victory in a poem that became "The Star-Spangled Banner ... environments of ...