Who wrote the lyrics of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” the U.S. national anthem linked to America250?

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

Key was a lawyer who witnessed the British bombardment of Fort McHenry during the Battle of Baltimore in the War of 1812. On September 14, 1814, he saw the large American flag still flying over the fort after the attack and began writing a poem inspired by the sight.

The poem was first published as “Defence of Fort M’Henry.” Its words were later set to the melody of a popular English song written by John Stafford Smith. The tune therefore predates Key’s lyrics and is sometimes incorrectly credited to him.

The song became increasingly popular at public events before Congress officially made it the national anthem on March 3, 1931. It has four verses, but public performances usually use only the first. The flag Key saw had 15 stars and 15 stripes, reflecting the number of states at the time.