Who wrote the music for the tune used by the U.S. national anthem?

John Stafford Smith wrote the music for the tune used by the U.S. national anthem, The Star-Spangled Banner. The melody came from an English drinking song called To Anacreon in Heaven.

Francis Scott Key wrote the anthem's lyrics in 1814 after observing the bombardment of Fort McHenry during the War of 1812. He adapted the words to Smith's already existing melody, which was associated with the Anacreontic Society, a London musical club.

The song became the U.S. national anthem in 1931, more than a century after Key wrote the poem. A common mix-up is to credit Key with both words and music; Key wrote the lyrics, while Smith composed the tune.