1948 FRANCIS SCOTT KEY "THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER" -SCOTT #962

  During the War of 1812, Key accompanied by the British Exchange Agent Colonel John Stuart Skinner, dined aboard the British ship HMS Tonnant, as the guest of three British officers. Skinner and Key were there to negotiate the release of prisoners, but they were not allowed to leave the ship because the British felt that they had become familiar with their strengths and positions, as they were about to attack the American forces at Fort McHenry on the nights of September 3-4, 1814.
  At dawn, Key was able to see the American flag still waving and reported this to the prisoners below deck. After his release, and on the way back to Baltimore, he was inspired to write a poem describing his experience, calling it "The Defense of Fort McHenry, which he published in The Patriot on September 20, 1814.
  Key set his poem to the music of  "When the Warriors Return", since then, it has been called "The Star Spangled Banner". 
  Under this name, the song was adopted as the American national anthem first by order of President Woodrow Wilson in 1916 and then by Congressional resolution in 1931, signed by President Herbert Hoover.
  Interesting and little known facts about Key---in 1832 Key served as the attorney for Sam Houston during his trial in the U.S. House of Representatives for assaulting another Congressman and in 1835 he prosecuted Richard Lawrence for his unsuccessful attempt to assassinate President Andrew Jackson.