Francis Scott Key
Born August 1, 1779 (Frederick County, Maryland)
Died January 11, 1843 (Baltimore, Maryland)
Songwriter, lawyer
Francis Scott Key wrote the words to the national anthem of the United States, the now-famous song called "The Star-Spangled Banner." Written in September 1814 during the Battle of Baltimore, the song was officially signed into law as the nation's anthem by President Herbert Hoover (1874–1964; served 1929–33) on March 3, 1931. Key was not a professional poet but rather a lawyer who later served as U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia between 1833 and 1841. As the author of the American national anthem, Francis Scott Key has numerous monuments and landmarks dedicated to his memory.
Exposure to Notable Figures
Francis Scott Key was born in Frederick County, Maryland, at Terra Rubra, his family's estate, named for the red earth on which it stood. Francis's mother was Ann Phoebe Penn Dagworthy Charlton, a well-educated woman from a wealthy family. She was a devout Christian who was both generous and hospitable. John Ross Key was an officer serving in the Continental Army when his son Francis wasborn in 1779 at the height of the American Revolution (1775–83). Ann taught Francis and his sister to read at an early age and often had the children read aloud from the family Bible.
This page contains 201 words.
Key, Francis Scott article
Read the rest of this article.
This article contains 2,529 words
(approx. 8 pages at 300 words per page).
Order our Francis Scott Key Article
