Edward Johnson, Baltimore's Mayor When British Attacked-- Part 1

From Wikipedia.

(1767-1829)

American politician and businessman.  Served as Baltimore's mayor for six terms between 1808 and 1824. He was Baltimore's mayor when the British attacked and was instrumental in organizing the civilian defense of the city.  For several years he was owner of one of the city's largest breweries as well as a director of the Bank of Baltimore.

In 1789 he was listed as a brewer. and by 1807 he was sole owner of it.  He remained as owner of the brewery for his first two terms as mayor (two-year terms) but the brewery burned down in 1812.  he rebuilt it but sold it to George Brown in 1813.

A month afterwards, Mary Pickersgill assembled the famous Star-Spangled Banner flag on the brewery floor.

--Brock-Perry

Other Baltimore War of 1812 Monuments-- Part 3: The "Star-Spangled Banner" House and Wells-McComas Monument

**  The "Star-Spangled Banner" flag was designed and primarily sewn at Baltimore's Flag House.  The historic house was once occupied by Mary Young Pickersgill and her successful flag making business.

**  The Daniel Wells / Henry McComas Monument.  These two men were members of Captain Edward Alsquith's Militia Rifle Compnay and are credited with killing British General Robert Ross, who had led the sacking and burning of the Washington, D.C..

The monument was completed in 1873 and is made of Baltimore County marble.

--Brock-Perry

The Star-Spangled Banner Flag-- Part 3: Original Size Was 30 by 42 Feet

Mary Pickershill stitched the flag using a combination of cotton and dyed English wool.  She was assisted by her daughter, 2 nieces and a black indentured servant.

The flag consisted of fifteen horizontal red and white stripes and fifteen white stars on a blue field, that according to the Flag Act of 1794 when Vermont and Kentucky entered the Union.

The flag was originally 30 by 42 feet and each star was two feet in diameter.  After the battle, the Armistead family occasionally would give away pieces as souvenirs and gifts.  This and deterioration of the flag over the years has resulted in the loss of several feet.  It now measures 30 by 34 feet.

And, there are just 14 stars, the 15th was given as a gift and unfortunately the recipient or whereabouts is unknown.

--Brock-Perry

The Star-Spangled Banner Flag-- Part 2: The Great Garrison Flag

The larger of the two flags made for Armistead is referred to as the Great Garrison Flag and it was the largest battle flag ever flown up until that time.

The smaller one was known as the Storm Flag and was more durable and less prone to fouling in inclement weather.

The flag was most likely sewn by Mary Young Pickersgill, a noted Baltimore seamstress.  She received a government commission to make it in 1813.  Cost of the flags was $405.90.  Major George Armistead specifically wanted "a flag so large that the British would have no difficulty seeing it from a distance."

--Brock-Perry

Fabric from "Star-Spangled Banner" Goes To Auction-- Part 2: Two Pieces

Major George Armistead had commissioned a local Baltimore woman named Mary Pickersgill to make two flags for Fort McHenry.  The largest one was flown the morning after the British bombardment.  This is the one that inspired Francis Scott Key to write his poem.

The majority of the flag (after the pieces of fabric were cut off) was donated to the Smithsonian by Armistead's family.

This two by 3.25-inch white segment of the flag and a red 1.5 by 1.25-inch swatch are being offered for $40,000.

--Brock-Perry

Fort McHenry's Defenders Day-- Part 1: How It Came About

From the September 13, 2013, Baltimore Sun "Fort McHenry captures the glory of Defenders' Day" by Chris Kaltenbach.

In 2012, some 1.5 million people crowded Baltimore's Inner harbor to commemorate the bicentennial of the war.

In 2013, Fort McHenry and the Maryland Historical Society worked together to reproduce the Star-Spangled Banner. which will be the centerpiece of this year's Defenders' Day.

A "happy confluence of a Baltimore seamstress (Mary Pickersgilll, who created the original flag), a Frederick lawyer (Francis Scott Key, who wrote the poem that would become the "Star-Spangled Banner"), a British drinking song ("To Anacreon in Heaven," the tune of which was applied to Key's poem) and some unfriendly pyrotechnics courtesy of the invading British Navy" brought about the famed song.

Jose Can You See?  --Brock-Perry

Two Star-Spangled Items You Might Not Know About in Baltimore

You can see Francis Scott Key's original manuscropt with the words to the Star-Spangled Banner at the Maryland Historical Society.

You can also visit the home of Mary Pickersgill who sewed the 15-star, 15 stripe garrison flag made famous in the song.

Now you can see these and other related places with a new combo ticket.

Brock-Perry