Who wrote the lyrics of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” inspired by the 1814 Battle of Baltimore?

Francis Scott Key wrote the lyrics of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” inspired by the 1814 Battle of Baltimore.

Key watched the British bombardment of Fort McHenry from a ship in Baltimore Harbor during the War of 1812. At dawn on September 14, 1814, he saw the large American flag still flying over the fort and began writing a poem about the sight.

He completed the poem in Baltimore after his release from the British fleet. It was first printed as “Defence of Fort M'Henry” and was soon set to the melody of “The Anacreontic Song,” written by English composer John Stafford Smith.

The song became increasingly popular but was not made the official U.S. national anthem until March 3, 1931. A frequent mix-up is crediting Stafford Smith with the entire anthem: he composed the music, while Key wrote the words. The anthem has four stanzas, though usually only the first is performed.