For America's 250th anniversary, who wrote the lyrics of the United States national anthem?

Francis Scott Key wrote the lyrics of the United States national anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

Key wrote the poem known as “Defence of Fort M'Henry” in September 1814 after witnessing the bombardment of Fort McHenry during the Battle of Baltimore in the War of 1812. The sight of a large American flag still flying over the fort inspired the poem.

The lyrics were later set to the tune of a British drinking song called “The Anacreontic Song,” composed by John Stafford Smith. This means Key wrote the words, while Smith composed the music. The song became increasingly popular during the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Congress officially adopted “The Star-Spangled Banner” as the national anthem on March 3, 1931. Only the first verse is commonly performed, although the original poem contained four verses. The anthem’s title refers to the flag Key saw above Fort McHenry.