America 250: Francis Scott Key
The sight of the American flag inspired the poem that later became the national anthem.
Francis Scott Key (1779鈥�1843) was an American lawyer best known for writing the lyrics to the U.S. national anthem, 鈥淭he Star-Spangled Banner.鈥� Deeply religious, he once considered becoming an Episcopal priest before pursuing a career in law. During the War of 1812, he briefly served in a Georgetown militia and was present at the Battle of Bladensburg in August 1814. After the British burned Washington, Key traveled to Baltimore to help negotiate the release of an American prisoner. While detained aboard a British ship, he witnessed the overnight bombardment of Fort McHenry. The sight of the American flag still flying the next morning inspired the poem that later became the national anthem.