The story behind "The Star Spangled Banner" began in August 1814, during the War of 1812 when British forces set fire to the Capitol and other buildings in Washington, DC. When they were returning to their ships they took with them as prisoner Dr William Beanes, the elderly and popular town physician of Upper Marlboro, Maryland.
The following month the British fleet, commanded by General Ross, was anchored off Baltimore where Dr William Beanes was a prisoner in the flagship "Surprise." A young lawyer who wrote verse as a hobby, Francis Scott Key, was a friend of the doctor and felt it was his duty to come to his rescue. With President Madison's permission, he set out from Baltimore in the Minden, flying a flag of truce. With him went John S. Skinner, a government agent.
The pair reached the British fleet and General Ross agreed they could take Beanes home - but not yet. The British were about to shell Fort McHenry, which guarded Baltimore, and Key and Skinner would have to stay under guard on the ship till the fortress had been captured.
Key and Skinner were compelled to witness from afar the terrific bombardment. Anxiously throughout the day they observed the "Stars and Stripes" flag flying on top of the fortress. During the night, they continued to look out for it, and at the dawn of the morning of September 14, 1814 with grateful hearts they could see that the American flag was still waving in the breeze over the fortress. Obviously, the attack had failed.
It was then that Key composed the poem, which he originally titled "Defence of Fort M'Henry", writing down its words on the back of an envelope. He finished all the verses on the way to shore, but some of the lines were only in his memory. As soon as he reached his hotel room Key wrote out the complete song as it now stands.
"Defence of Fort M'Henry" was immediately read by Key's friends who, equally deeply moved, had it printed at once and distributed as a handbill. Baltimore's daily newspaper printed the poem in its first issue after the city's liberation.
"Defence of Fort M'Henry" fitted the meter of an old English drinking song "To Annacreon in Heaven," which had been used for the opening hymn at meetings of The Anacreontic Society. an 18th-century gentlemen's club of amateur musicians in London, American soldiers celebrating their victory were joined in a city tavern by Francis Key who read them his poem. On the spur of the moment, Baltimore actor Ferdinand Durang led them singing the poem, choosing the melody of “To Annacreon in Heaven.”
Within four days all Baltimore was singing "The Star Spangled Banner" and it quickly spread throughout the land.
The Secretary of War, Daniel E. Lamont issued an order in the 1890s that it "be played at every Army post every evening at retreat." and in 1899, the US Navy officially adopted "The Star-Spangled Banner" as its anthem.
In 1916 President Woodrow Wilson issued an executive order making "The Star-Spangled Banner" the US national anthem. The order was confirmed by a congressional resolution on March 3, 1931 which was signed by President Herbert Hoover. Before 1931, the US national anthem was "My Country 'Tis Of Thee."
It is against the law to use "The Star Spangled Banner" as dance music in Massachusetts.
The original manuscript of the poem was sold for $24,000 at an auction in New York in 1933.
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| The 15-star, 15-stripe "Star-Spangled Banner" that inspired the poem |
The following month the British fleet, commanded by General Ross, was anchored off Baltimore where Dr William Beanes was a prisoner in the flagship "Surprise." A young lawyer who wrote verse as a hobby, Francis Scott Key, was a friend of the doctor and felt it was his duty to come to his rescue. With President Madison's permission, he set out from Baltimore in the Minden, flying a flag of truce. With him went John S. Skinner, a government agent.
The pair reached the British fleet and General Ross agreed they could take Beanes home - but not yet. The British were about to shell Fort McHenry, which guarded Baltimore, and Key and Skinner would have to stay under guard on the ship till the fortress had been captured.
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| An artist's rendering of the battle at Fort McHenry |
Key and Skinner were compelled to witness from afar the terrific bombardment. Anxiously throughout the day they observed the "Stars and Stripes" flag flying on top of the fortress. During the night, they continued to look out for it, and at the dawn of the morning of September 14, 1814 with grateful hearts they could see that the American flag was still waving in the breeze over the fortress. Obviously, the attack had failed.
It was then that Key composed the poem, which he originally titled "Defence of Fort M'Henry", writing down its words on the back of an envelope. He finished all the verses on the way to shore, but some of the lines were only in his memory. As soon as he reached his hotel room Key wrote out the complete song as it now stands.
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| Francis Scott Key's original manuscript copy of his "Defence of Fort M'Henry" poem. |
"Defence of Fort M'Henry" was immediately read by Key's friends who, equally deeply moved, had it printed at once and distributed as a handbill. Baltimore's daily newspaper printed the poem in its first issue after the city's liberation.
"Defence of Fort M'Henry" fitted the meter of an old English drinking song "To Annacreon in Heaven," which had been used for the opening hymn at meetings of The Anacreontic Society. an 18th-century gentlemen's club of amateur musicians in London, American soldiers celebrating their victory were joined in a city tavern by Francis Key who read them his poem. On the spur of the moment, Baltimore actor Ferdinand Durang led them singing the poem, choosing the melody of “To Annacreon in Heaven.”
Within four days all Baltimore was singing "The Star Spangled Banner" and it quickly spread throughout the land.
 |
| The earliest surviving sheet music of "The Star-Spangled Banner", from 1814. |
The Secretary of War, Daniel E. Lamont issued an order in the 1890s that it "be played at every Army post every evening at retreat." and in 1899, the US Navy officially adopted "The Star-Spangled Banner" as its anthem.
In 1916 President Woodrow Wilson issued an executive order making "The Star-Spangled Banner" the US national anthem. The order was confirmed by a congressional resolution on March 3, 1931 which was signed by President Herbert Hoover. Before 1931, the US national anthem was "My Country 'Tis Of Thee."
It is against the law to use "The Star Spangled Banner" as dance music in Massachusetts.
The original manuscript of the poem was sold for $24,000 at an auction in New York in 1933.
American operatic soprano Lucy Monroe was noted for her performances of "The Star-Spangled Banner" at sporting and military events, which earned her the nickname of "The Star-Spangled Soprano". Monroe estimated that she performed "The Star-Spangled Banner" over 5,000 times.
In America, before TV was broadcast 24 hours a day, there was a nightly sign off where the Star Spangled Banner was played and an image of the American flag was shown before the TV cut to static.
The full version of "The Star Spangled Banner" consists of four verses, but it is very rare to hear any but the first performed.
Despite the fact that millions sing "The Star Spangled Banner" before sporting events, civic club meetings and other public gatherings, it is still ranked as the most difficult national anthem on earth to sing.
Sources From: Europress Family Encyclopedia, Compton's Encyclopedia
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