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.

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 ...