Eureka Reporter | 1903-09-25 | Page 6 | Key's Poem National Anthem

KEYS POEM NATIONAL ANTHEM circumstances under wh eh atz star spangled banner was written francis scott key rey whose star spangled banner has been officially declared the national anthem of the united states was born in frederick county maryland august 1 1779 he was the son of an officer in the revo lutio nary army and after being grad bated from st john s college in 1798 he became a lawyer his famo is poem was written in 1814 when as awas AZY an agent tor for the exchange of prisoners sent by president madison he saw from a british vessel the bombard ment of baltimore all night shot and shell rained upon the city as the morning broke key looked eagerly through the smoke to see whether the stars and stripes still floated above fort mchenry the flag was there unharmed and in exultation key penned the well known lines keys key s death occurred at baltimore in 1843 A monument to him was unveiled at frederick in 1897