Wrote the lyrics to "The Star-Spangled Banner," the national anthem of the United States, after witnessing the bombardment of Fort McHenry by the British Navy in 1814. He was a prominent lawyer and poet of his time.
Francis Scott Key is synonymous with the American national anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner". Born on August 1, 1779, in Frederick, Maryland, Key wrote the iconic poem that would become the country's most revered song, cementing his place in American history.
In 1814, during the War of 1812, Key witnessed the British bombardment of Fort McHenry. As he watched the American flag still waving defiantly above the fort at dawn, he was inspired to write the poem "Defence of Fort M'Henry". The poem was published within a week, set to the popular tune "To Anacreon in Heaven", and eventually became known as "The Star-Spangled Banner".
Key was a successful lawyer in Maryland and Washington, D.C. for four decades, taking on high-profile cases, including the Burr conspiracy trial. He argued numerous times before the Supreme Court and was nominated for District Attorney for the District of Columbia by President Andrew Jackson, serving from 1833 to 1841.
Key was a devout Episcopalian and a complex figure, often at odds with his own words. He owned slaves from 1800, despite penning the iconic lines "Land of the Free and Home of the Brave". As District Attorney, he suppressed abolitionists and lost a case against Reuben Crandall in 1836, accusing the defendants' abolitionist publications of instigating slaves to rebel.
Key was also a leader of the American Colonization Society, which sent former slaves to Africa. He freed some of his slaves in the 1830s, paying one as his farm foreman to supervise his other slaves. He publicly criticized slavery and gave free legal representation to some slaves seeking freedom, but also represented owners of runaway slaves.
At the time of his death in 1843, Key still owned eight slaves.
Key was born into an affluent family. His father, John Ross Key, was a lawyer and a commissioned officer. Key's upbringing instilled in him a strong sense of morality and a passion for literature, laying the groundwork for his future success.
Key's poem, "The Star-Spangled Banner", slowly gained popularity as an unofficial anthem, finally achieving official status as the national anthem in 1931, under President Herbert Hoover. His legacy extends beyond his iconic poem, with his work as a lawyer, abolitionist, and critic of slavery leaving an indelible mark on American history.
Today, Francis Scott Key is remembered as a complex figure, whose words continue to inspire and divide. His poem remains an enduring symbol of American patriotism, a testament to the power of literature to shape our understanding of ourselves and our nation.
Born in 1750
An English organist and composer, best known for setting the tune to "The Star-Spangled Banner", the national anthem of the United States.
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