What famous patriotic song did Francis Scott Key write in 1814?

Francis Scott Key wrote “The Star-Spangled Banner” in 1814.

Key wrote the poem after witnessing the British bombardment of Fort McHenry during the Battle of Baltimore in the War of 1812. At dawn on September 14, 1814, he saw the large American flag still flying over the fort and began composing verses inspired by the scene.

The poem was originally titled “Defence of Fort M'Henry” and was printed in Baltimore soon afterward. It was set to the melody of “To Anacreon in Heaven,” a popular English song whose music was composed by John Stafford Smith. A common mix-up is crediting Key with both the words and the music; he wrote the lyrics, not the tune.

The song gradually became a popular patriotic anthem and was officially designated the national anthem of the United States by Congress in 1931. Although it has four verses, public performances usually use only the first.