The Star-Spangled Banner and Song Are United-- Part 2

Francis Scott Key was a 35-year-old lawyer and amateur poet and watched the Fort McHenry bombardment from a British ship for 24 hours. He was there attempting to get the release of an American who had been taken prisoner. When he saw the Stars and Stripes flying proudly the next morning after that huge bombardment, it inspired him to put his thoughts to pen.

It was originally called "The Defense of Fort McHenry" and later set to music. It became the official National Anthem in 1931.

He wrote the four stanzas (though most often only the first is sung)with quill and ink. He first wrote "Oh say can you see through the dawn's early light" but crossed out "through" and wrote "by."

More to Come. --Brock-Perry