National anthem written by
What is a national anthem.
The Star-Spangled Banner
National anthem of the United States
For other uses, see Star-Spangled Banner (disambiguation)."Defense of Fort M'Henry" redirects here.
For the 1814 battle, see Battle of Baltimore.
"The Star-Spangled Banner" is the national anthem of the United States. The lyrics come from the "Defence of Fort M'Henry",[2] a poem written by American lawyer Francis Scott Key on September 14, 1814, after he witnessed the bombardment of Fort McHenry by the British Royal Navy during the Battle of Baltimore in the War of 1812.
Key was inspired by the large U.S. flag, with 15 stars and 15 stripes, known as the Star-Spangled Banner, flying triumphantly above the fort after the battle.
Shortest national anthem
The poem was set to the tune of a popular British song written by John Stafford Smith for the Anacreontic Society, a social club in London. Smith's song, "To Anacreon in Heaven" (or "The Anacreontic Song"), with various lyrics, was already popular in the United States.
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