The Star-spangled Banner

The Star-spangled Banner American national anthem, beginning, "O say can you see by the dawn's early light." The words were written by Francis Scott Key , a young Washington attorney who, during the War of 1812, sailed to the British fleet to obtain the release of a captured American. Key was detained by the British and witnessed from ship the bombardment of Fort McHenry during the night of Sept. 13-14, 1814. Defended under the command of Major George Armistead , the fort withstood the attack, and the sight of the American flag flying at dawn inspired Key's verses, which were written on the way ashore in the morning. After circulating as a handbill, the lyrics were published in a Baltimore newspaper on Sept. 20, 1814. The tune was taken from the English popular song "To Anacreon in Heaven." Although the army and the navy had for some years regarded "The Star-spangled Banner" as the national anthem, its designation as such first became official by executive order of President Wilson in 1916. This order was confirmed by act of Congress in 1931. The large flag that inspired the anthem, with 15 stars and stripes and originally 30-by-42-ft (9.1-by-12.8-m), has been in the collection of the Smithsonian Institution since 1912.

Bibliography: See V. Weybright, The Star-spangled Banner (1935).

Star-Spangled Banner, The a song first written as a poem by Francis Key Scott in 1814, and that has been America's official national anthem since 1931. Key wrote the poem in response to the bombing of Fort McHenry during the War of 1812 and wanted the poem set to the English tune “To Anacreon in Heaven,” written by Hohn Stafford Smith around 1775.

Star-Spangled Banner, The. Nat. anthem of USA, officially adopted under Senate Bill in 1931 but long used as such before that. Words written by Francis Scott Key (1779–1843) of Baltimore on 15 Sept. 1814, after he had seen defence of Fort McHenry, near Baltimore, against Brit. bombardment. First appeared in Baltimore Patriot, 20 Sept. 1814. Metre of poem indicates it was written to tune of To Anacreon in Heaven by Eng. composer J. Stafford Smith which was then popular in Amer. as official song of Anacreontic socs. there.