Francis Scott Key wrote the lyrics of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” the U.S. national anthem connected to the War of 1812.
Key wrote the poem on September 14, 1814, after watching the bombardment of Fort McHenry in Baltimore Harbor. He saw the American flag still flying over the fort at dawn and drafted the poem originally titled “Defence of Fort M'Henry.”
The words were later set to the melody of “The Anacreontic Song,” a British tune composed by John Stafford Smith. This creates a common mix-up: Key wrote the lyrics, but he did not compose the music. The song became increasingly popular during the nineteenth century.
Congress officially designated “The Star-Spangled Banner” as the national anthem in 1931, when President Herbert Hoover signed the legislation. The original poem had four stanzas, although public performances generally use only the first. Its War of 1812 origins make it part of the longer national story recalled during America's 250th anniversary.