, Maryland, USA
1814 - Francis Scott Key wrote "Star Spangled Banner" during British attack of Fort McHenry
In September 1814, during the War of 1812, Francis Scott Key witnessed a pivotal moment in American history as he observed the British bombardment of Fort McHenry in Baltimore, Maryland. Key, a lawyer and amateur poet, had boarded a British ship to negotiate the release of an American prisoner. Held aboard the ship overnight, he anxiously watched as the British navy unleashed a relentless attack on the fort. The dawn of September 14th revealed that the American flag still proudly flew over Fort McHenry, signaling the fort's endurance and the failure of the British assault.
Moved by the sight of the resilient flag, Key penned a poem titled "Defence of Fort M'Henry," which he later set to the tune of a popular British song. This poem, celebrating the American spirit and resilience, was eventually renamed "The Star-Spangled Banner." The song's powerful imagery and patriotic fervor resonated deeply with the American public, and it was officially adopted as the national anthem of the United States in 1931. Key's work immortalized the bravery displayed during the siege of Fort McHenry and became a lasting symbol of American perseverance and pride.
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