Today in History

September 13, 1814

The Star-Spangled Banner

During the war of 1812, Francis Scott Key was a prisoner aboard a British war ship anchored in the Chesapeake Bar during the Battle of Fort McHenry. He boarded the ship under a flag of truce to secure the release of prisoners. However, while on-board he accidentally overheard British plans to attack Baltimore.

He witnessed the battle during the night. On September 13, 1814, he wrote down his recollection of the events in a poem he called "Defence of Fort McHenry". Circulated widely, the poem was soon set to music and became known as "The Star-Spangled Banner". Despite the great difficulty many have in singing the song due to the wide range of octave notes, the Star Spangled Banner became the nation's anthem in 1931.

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