Francis Scott Key
Born	August 1, 1779(1779-08-01) Carroll County, Maryland, United States
Died	January 11, 1843 Baltimore, Maryland, United States
Nationality	American
Occupation	Poet, lawyer, district attorney
Religious beliefs	The Episcopal Church

Maryland Historical Society plaque marking the birthplace of Francis Scott Key

Fort McHenry looking towards the position of the British ships (with the Francis Scott Key Bridge in the distance on the upper left)

Francis Scott Key (August 1, 1779 – January 11, 1843) was an American lawyer, author, and amateur poet, from Georgetown, who wrote the words to the United States' national anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner". Events 30 BC - Octavian (later known as Augustus enters Alexandria, Egypt, bringing it under the control of the Roman Year 1779 ( MDCCLXXIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Carroll County is a County located in the US state of Maryland. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Events 1055 - Theodora is crowned Empress of the Byzantine Empire. Year 1843 ( MDCCCXLIII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The United States of America —commonly referred to as the A poet is a person who writes Poetry. Etymology From the Ancient greek: ποιέω, poieō: "I make or compose" A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law as an attorney, Counsel or Solicitor; a person A district attorney (DA is in some US jurisdictions the title of the local public official who represents the government in the prosecution of alleged criminals The Episcopal Church is the official name of the Province of the Anglican Communion in the United States. The Maryland Historical Society, founded in 1844 is the oldest cultural institution in the state of Maryland. Fort McHenry, in Baltimore Maryland, is a star shaped fort best known Not to be confused with the Francis Scott Key Bridge (Washington The Francis Scott Key Bridge, also known as the Outer Harbor Bridge or Events 30 BC - Octavian (later known as Augustus enters Alexandria, Egypt, bringing it under the control of the Roman Year 1779 ( MDCCLXXIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Events 1055 - Theodora is crowned Empress of the Byzantine Empire. Year 1843 ( MDCCCXLIII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common The United States of America —commonly referred to as the A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law as an attorney, Counsel or Solicitor; a person A poet is a person who writes Poetry. Etymology From the Ancient greek: ποιέω, poieō: "I make or compose" Georgetown is a Neighborhood located in the Northwest quadrant of Washington D A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that evokes and eulogizes the history traditions and struggles of its people recognized either by a nation's " The Star-Spangled Banner " is the National anthem of the United States of America

Life

Francis Scott Key was born to Ann Louis Penn Dagworthy (Charlton) and Captain John Ross Key at the family plantation Terra Rubra in what was Frederick County and is now Carroll County, Maryland. John Ross Key ( September 19, 1754 &ndash October 11, 1821) was a lawyer a commissioned officer in the Continental Army, a judge Frederick County is located in the western part of the US state of Maryland, bordering the southern border of Pennsylvania and the northeastern border Carroll County is a County located in the US state of Maryland. His father John Ross Key was a lawyer, a judge and an officer in the Continental Army. John Ross Key ( September 19, 1754 &ndash October 11, 1821) was a lawyer a commissioned officer in the Continental Army, a judge The American Continental Army was an Army formed after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War by the colonies that became the United States of America

He studied law at St. John's College, Annapolis, Maryland and also learned under his uncle Philip Barton Key. St John's College is a Liberal arts college with two US campuses Annapolis Maryland and Santa Fe New Mexico. Annapolis is the capital of the US state of Maryland, as well as the County seat of Anne Arundel County. Philip Barton Key ( April 12, 1757 &ndash July 28, 1815) was a Representative from the third district of Maryland ^[1]

"The Star-Spangled Banner"

During the War of 1812, Key, accompanied by the American Prisoner Exchange Agent Colonel John Stuart Skinner, dined aboard the British ship HMS Tonnant, as the guests of three British officers: Vice Admiral Alexander Cochrane, Rear Admiral Sir George Cockburn, and Major General Robert Ross. The War of 1812 was fought between the United States of America and the British Empire, particularly Great Britain and her North American colonies Admiral of the White Sir Alexander Forrester Inglis Cochrane GCB RN ( April 23, 1758 &ndash January 26, 1832 Major General Robert Ross-of-Bladensburg (born Robert Ross, 1766 - September 12, 1814) was a British army officer who participated Skinner and Key were there to negotiate the release of a prisoner, Dr. William Beanes. Beanes was a resident of Upper Marlboro, Maryland and had been captured by the British after he placed rowdy stragglers under citizen's arrest with a group of men. Upper Marlboro is a town in and the county seat of Prince George's County Maryland, United States. Skinner, Key, and Beanes were allowed to return to their own sloop, but were not allowed to return to Baltimore because they had become familiar with the strength and position of the British units and of the British intention to attack Baltimore. As a result of this, Key was unable to do anything but watch the bombarding of the American forces at Fort McHenry during the Battle of Baltimore on the night of September 13–September 14, 1814. Fort McHenry, in Baltimore Maryland, is a star shaped fort best known In the Battle of Baltimore, one of the turning points in the War of 1812, American forces warded off a British sea invasion of the busy port city of Events 509 BC - The Temple of Jupiter on Rome 's Capitoline Hill is dedicated on the ides of September Events 81 - Domitian becomes Emperor of the Roman Empire upon the death of his brother Titus. Year 1814 ( MDCCCXIV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common ^[2]

When the smoke cleared, Key was able to see an American flag still waving. Flags of the United States The Flag of the United States of America consists of 13 equal horizontal stripes of Red (top and bottom alternating On the way back to Baltimore, he was inspired to write a poem describing his experience, "The Defence of Fort McHenry", which he published in the Patriot on September 20, 1814. Events 451 - The Battle of Chalons takes place in North Eastern France. Year 1814 ( MDCCCXIV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common He intended to fit the rhythms of composer John Stafford Smith's "To Anacreon in Heaven". A composer (literally meaning 'one who puts together' is a person who creates Music, usually in the medium of notation, for Interpretation and Performance John Stafford Smith ( March 30, 1750 – September 21, 1836) was an English composer born in Gloucester church Organist, ^[2] It has become better known as "The Star Spangled Banner". " The Star-Spangled Banner " is the National anthem of the United States of America Under this name, the song was adopted as the American national anthem, first by an Executive Order from President Woodrow Wilson in 1916 (which had little effect beyond requiring military bands to play it) and then by a Congressional resolution in 1931, signed by President Herbert Hoover. Thomas Woodrow Wilson (December 28 1856—February 3 1924 was the twenty-eighth President of the United States. Herbert Clark Hoover (August 10 1874 &ndash October 20 1964 was the thirty-first President of the United States (1929–1933

Later life

In 1832, Key served as the attorney for Sam Houston during his trial in the U.S. House of Representatives for assaulting another Congressman. Samuel Houston ( March 2, 1793 July 26, 1863) was a 19th century American statesman politician and soldier The United States House of Representatives is one of the two chambers of the United States Congress; the other is the Senate. ^[3] He published a prose work called The Power of Literature, and Its Connection with Religion in 1834. ^[1]

In 1835, Key prosecuted Richard Lawrence for his unsuccessful attempt to assassinate President of the United States Andrew Jackson. Richard Lawrence (1800? &ndash June 13, 1861) is the first known person to attempt to assassinate an American President. The President of the United States is the Head of state and Head of government of the United States and is the highest political official in United States by Andrew Jackson (March 15 1767 June 8 1845 was the seventh President of the United States (1829&ndash1837

In 1843, Key died at the home of his daughter Elizabeth Howard in Baltimore from pleurisy and was initially interred in Old Saint Paul's Cemetery in the vault of John Eager Howard. Pleurisy, also known as pleuritis, is an Inflammation of the pleura the lining of the Pleural cavity surrounding the Lungs Pleurisy has a variety Old Saint Paul's Cemetery is a Cemetery located in downtown Baltimore Maryland. John Eager Howard (June 4 1752 - October 12 1827 was an American soldier and politician from Maryland. In 1866, his body was moved to his family plot in Frederick at Mount Olivet Cemetery. Frederick is the County seat of Frederick County Maryland, United States. Mount Olivet Cemetery is a Cemetery in Frederick City, Maryland. Though Key had written poetry from time to time, often with heavily religious themes, these works were not collected and published until 14 years after his death. ^[1]

The Key Monument Association erected a memorial in 1898 and the remains of both Francis Scott Key and his wife were placed in a crypt in the base of the monument.

Other related items

In 1861, Key's grandson was imprisoned in Fort McHenry with the Mayor of Baltimore, George William Brown, and other locals deemed to be pro-South. Fort McHenry, in Baltimore Maryland, is a star shaped fort best known George William Brown was the mayor of Baltimore Maryland from 1860 to 1861.

Key was a distant cousin and the namesake of F. Scott Fitzgerald whose full name was Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald. Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald (September 24 1896 – December 21 1940 was an American writer of Novels and Short stories, whose works are evocative of the His direct descendants include geneticist Thomas Hunt Morgan, guitarist Dana Key, and the American fashion designer and socialite Pauline de Rothschild. Thomas Hunt Morgan ( September 25, 1866 &ndash December 4, 1945) was an American geneticist and embryologist. Dana Key (born December 30, 1954) is a Guitarist and singer, who was a co-founder of the Christian rock group DeGarmo & Key Pauline de Rothschild ( December 31, 1908 &ndash March 8, 1976) was a fashion icon and tastemaker who also was known as a writer a fashion designer

His sister, Anne Phoebe Charlton Key, married Roger B. Taney, future Chief Justice of the United States and author of the Court's Dred Scott decision. Roger Brooke Taney ( "tawny" March 17, 1777 – October 12, 1864) was the twelfth United States Attorney General The Chief Justice of the United States is the head of the judicial branch of the government of the United States, and presides over the U Dred Scott v Sandford —whether or not they were slaves—could never be Citizens of the United States, and that the United States Congress

Robert Altman credited Key with the "title song" of Brewster McCloud, though it contained only John Stafford Smith's instrumentals. Robert Bernard Altman (February 20 1925 – November 20 2006 was an American Film director known for making films that are highly naturalistic, but with Brewster McCloud is a 1970 movie directed by Robert Altman; it centers on a young recluse who lives in a fallout shelter of the Houston John Stafford Smith ( March 30, 1750 – September 21, 1836) was an English composer born in Gloucester church Organist,

Monuments and memorials

Plaque commemorating the death of Francis Scott Key placed by the DAR in Baltimore. The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR is a lineage -based membership organization of women dedicated to promoting Historic preservation, Education Mount Vernon is a Neighborhood located just to the north of downtown Baltimore Maryland.

The Howard family vault at Saint Paul's Cemetery, Baltimore, Maryland.

• Two bridges are named in his honor. The first is the Francis Scott Key Bridge between the Rosslyn section of Arlington County, Virginia, and Georgetown in Washington, D.C.. Not to be confused with the bridge of the same name in Baltimore Maryland. Georgetown is a Neighborhood located in the Northwest quadrant of Washington D Washington DC ( formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, the District, or simply D Scott's Georgetown home, which was demolished in 1947 (as part of construction for the Whitehurst Freeway), was located where the bridge intersects with M St. The Whitehurst Freeway is an elevated Highway over K Street and Water Street in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington D , the location is now the Francis Scott Key park. ^[4]

• The other bridge is the Francis Scott Key Bridge, part of the Baltimore Beltway crossing the outer harbor of Baltimore, Maryland. Not to be confused with the Francis Scott Key Bridge (Washington The Francis Scott Key Bridge, also known as the Outer Harbor Bridge or Interstate 695 (abbreviated I-695) is a -long full beltway Interstate highway extending around Baltimore Maryland, USA. Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge is located at the approximate point where the British anchored to shell Fort McHenry. Fort McHenry, in Baltimore Maryland, is a star shaped fort best known

• St. John's College, Annapolis, which Key graduated from in 1796, has an auditorium named in his honor. St John's College is a Liberal arts college with two US campuses Annapolis Maryland and Santa Fe New Mexico. An auditorium (plural auditoriums, or less commonly auditoria) is the area within a theatre, Concert hall, or other performance space where the

• Francis Scott Key was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970. The Songwriters Hall of Fame is an arm of the National Academy of Popular Music.

• He is buried at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Frederick. Mount Olivet Cemetery is a Cemetery in Frederick City, Maryland. His family plot is next to Thomas Johnson, the first governor of Maryland, and friend Barbara Fritchie, who allegedly waved the American flag out of her home in defiance of Stonewall Jackson's march through the city during the Civil War. Thomas Johnson ( November 4 1732 &ndash February 22 1819) was an American jurist with a distinguished political career Barbara Fritchie (nee Hauer also known as Barbara Frietchie, and sometimes spelled Frietschie, ( December 3, 1766 &ndash December 18 Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson (January 21 1824 &ndash May 10 1863 was a Confederate general during the American Civil War, and probably the Causes of the war See also Origins of the American Civil War, Timeline of events leading to the American Civil War The coexistence of a slave-owning South

• Francis Scott Key Hall at the University of Maryland, College Park is named in his honor. The University of Maryland College Park (often referred to as The University of Maryland UMD, UMCP or simply Maryland) is a public research It is on the longest mall of any university in the United States. The George Washington University also has a residence hall in Key's honor at the corner of 19th and F Streets. The George Washington University ( GW or GWU) is a private coeducational university located in Washington D

• Francis Scott Key also has a school named after him in Brooklyn, New York. Brooklyn (named after the Dutch town Breukelen) is one of the five boroughs of New York City. I. S 117 is a junior high school located in the Fort Greene section of Brooklyn on Willoughby Avenue. Fort Greene is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Brooklyn. It houses 6th, 7th, and 8th grade classrooms as well as a District 75 Special Education unit. The Special Education classes include children who are emotionally disturbed. For more information on the school and its programs please visit the schools main site, P369k, located in Downtown Brooklyn. Williamsburgh Savings Bank Tower by DSJPG|thumb|The Williamsburgh Savings Bank Tower is a prominent symbol of Downtown

• Francis Scott Key High School in rural Carroll County, Maryland. Francis Scott Key High School (FSKHS or FSKey or more commonly FSK or simply "Key" is a four-year public High school in Union Bridge in Carroll Carroll County is a County located in the US state of Maryland.

• Francis Scott Key Mall in Frederick County, Maryland. Frederick County is located in the western part of the US state of Maryland, bordering the southern border of Pennsylvania and the northeastern border

• A monument to Key was commissioned by San Francisco businessman James Lick, who donated some $60,000 for a sculpture of Key to be raised in Golden Gate Park. ^[5] The travertine monument was executed by sculptor William W. Story in Rome in 1885-87. ^[6][7] The current budget of the city of San Francisco allocates some $140,000 to renovate the Key monument, which the city notes is about to be lost to environmental degradation if repairs are not made. (Restoration of the monument recently began and is slated to be finished by September 2008, according to the city. )

• The US Navy named a submarine in his honor, the USS Francis Scott Key

Media

See also

• War of 1812

Notes

External links

• Francis Scott Key at the Songwriters Hall of Fame
• Short biography
• Francis Scott Keys's biographic sketch at Find A Grave
• Francis Scott Key biography at Cyber Hymnal