He came, he saw, he wrote: almost 200 years have passed since a lawyer and part-time poet named Francis Scott Key had a ringside seat to one of the greatest battles in American history. When the smoke had cleared, the U.S. had defeated Great Britain in the War of 1812 and our young nation had a new anthem, "The Star Spangled Banner."

Jim Woodard

AS THE AUTHOR of our National Anthem, "The Star Spangled Banner," Francis Scott Key, a simple man who loved to read and write poetry while being strongly devoted to his small circle of friends, has become as closely linked to our country's history as many of our greatest past presidents.

Born Aug. 1, 1779, Key was a soft-spoken and highly intelligent youngster. During the first decade of his life, he lived with his parents on their Maryland plantation. Instead of pursuing sports, music, or dramatic ambitions like most of his young friends, he preferred to find a quiet corner where he could write poetry.

At age 10, Key was sent to St. John's Grammar School in Annapolis, Md. There, he lived with his great aunt. Later, he attended St. John's College, where he graduated with top honors. He then studied law at Annapolis at the suggestion of his Uncle Philip, a lawyer who had a major impact on Key. He even introduced him to the girl who would become his wife, Mary Taylor Lloyd (nicknamed Polly by Key). While courting, Key wrote many poems to and about Polly. It was his favorite way to communicate his feelings. They were married in Maryland in 1802. Soon after, they moved to Washington, D.C., where Key became a law partner with his uncle.

Key quickly gained a reputation as an accomplished trial attorney, winning most of his cases. His most noted case was defending Aaron Burr, the vice president of the U.S. during Thomas Jefferson's presidency. Burr and two other men had been arrested for treason when they were caught taking men and guns to the Southwest. Some even accused them of trying to take over land to found a new nation. No lawyer would defend them, feeling it was too hot an issue to touch. Key--fast becoming a powerful public speaker and skilled negotiator--welcomed the challenge and ultimately won the case.

In June of 1812, the U.S. declared war on Great Britain after numerous disagreements surfaced concerning trade during a war between England and France. The War of 1812 proved to be an intense series of battles. In August 1814, British soldiers burned the White House, Capitol Building, and Library of Congress. They then turned their attention to Baltimore, where they would fight what they thought would be the pivotal and turning-point battle of the war.

Their plans first were to defeat Fort McHenry, a large structure at the seaward side of Baltimore that protected the city from warships in Chesapeake Bay. Several British vessels were positioned at strategic points in the Bay in preparation for a major attack on the tort and, subsequently, the city.

As those ships were taking their positions, Key learned that one of his best friends, William Beanes, had been captured by the enemy and taken prisoner. Key became determined to find the ship where Beanes was being held captive and negotiate his release.

After contacting several military leaders, he was able to identify the ship, but none would give him permission to board the enemy vessel. In desperation, Key pleaded his case to Pres. James Madison. He explained to the President that Beanes was not a military person. He merely was a civilian--a physician--who should not have been taken captive in the first place. Madison agreed and prepared and signed a letter authorizing Key to board the ship and negotiate with the captain.

A small boat was used to ferry him to the British warship. Upon boarding, Key requested an audience with the captain, showing the sailors the letter from Pres. Madison. The captain was summoned and greeted Key cordially. He read the letter from the President, listened to Key's plea, then agreed to tree Beanes with one catch.

It was quite obvious on board the ship that a major battle with Fort McHenry was imminent. The British captain would not permit the men to return to shore until after the battle had concluded, fearing that the Americans would warn officers at the fort. They could return to their small boat, but must remain next to the warship.

Late that same afternoon, the battle began, and it was extremely fierce right from the start. Key stood up in the boat looking toward Fort McHenry. As the battle progressed, there was more and more smoke in the air, making it difficult to make out the fort. Finally, the only thing he could see was the huge American flag, flying on the eastern edge of the compound. It was made especially for that position, measuring 30' x 40' and requiring 400 yards of fine wool.

The battle continued and intensified into the night. Key slept little, watching the fighting progress while attempting to get some indication of who was winning. However, there was too much firing on either side to make any such determination. The red glare of rockets continually were streaming overhead. Bombs were bursting on both sides.

Just before daylight, all guns ceased firing the intense fighting was over. Key stood up, desperately trying to see who had won the battle--and probably the war. Was it the British or American forces? It was too dark and the air too smoky to really tell.

Although the early-morning light became brighter, too much smoke and tog remained to reveal anything concrete. Finally, the air cleared enough for Key to see that big flag at the entrance of Fort McHenry, but there was no wind, and the flag had fallen limp. Key soon realized that there was no way of knowing whether it was the British or American flag.

Then a breeze flowed over the fort, unfurling the flag. Key clearly could see that it was the American flag waving proudly--the U.S. had won! He was so moved by that sight, he sat down in the boat and, in the light of the slowly emerging sun, started composing a poem on an old envelope he had pulled from his pocket.

"Oh, say can you see, by the dawn's early light, what so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming," he wrote, "whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous flight, o'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming'? And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air, gave proof through the night that our flag was still there. Oh say, does that Star-Spangled Banner yet wave o'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?"

As he continued writing, the captain of the enemy ship informed him he now could return to shore with Beanes. Key completed his poem that evening in his Baltimore hotel room. The next day, he shared it with several friends who thought it was a great expression of patriotism. One person gave it to a newspaperman who had it published. It also was printed on a flyer and distributed widely.

One night at a bar, several people were discussing the poem and one person suggested putting it to music. They all seemed to think that was a good idea. One proposed using the music from the old English drinking song, "To Anacreon in Heaven," by John Stafford Smith. They did so and it appeared to be a perfect fit. Soon after, people were calling it "The Star-Spangled Banner."

In 1916, Pres. Woodrow Wilson declared that the song should be played at all official occasions. In 1931, it finally was made the country's National Anthem. After the war, Key, now famous, continued to work as a lawyer, eventually becoming a district attorney--and, of course, he continued to write poetry, until his death on Jan. 11, 1843.

Jim Woodard is the resident storyteller at The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum, Simi Valley, Calif.

COPYRIGHT 2006 Society for the Advancement of Education
COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning