Who commanded Fort McHenry during the British bombardment in 1814?

George Armistead commanded Fort McHenry during the British bombardment in 1814.

Armistead was a U.S. Army major and the fort’s commanding officer during the Battle of Baltimore. From September 13 to 14, British warships attacked Fort McHenry at the entrance to Baltimore Harbor as part of a combined sea-and-land campaign intended to capture the city. Armistead directed the fort’s defense while its artillery and garrison endured a prolonged bombardment.

The fort held, helping prevent the British fleet from forcing its way into Baltimore. At dawn, the large American garrison flag was still flying over the fort. That sight inspired Francis Scott Key, who had watched the attack from a nearby vessel, to write the poem later known as “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

The other names are connected to the wider war but not this command. William Winder commanded American troops at Bladensburg, Jacob Brown was a senior U.S. general, and Winfield Scott served prominently in the Niagara theater. Armistead died in 1818 from wounds and illness associated with his military service.