Francis Scott Key
1779 – 1843

Francis Scott Key

American lawyer and poet who wrote The Star-Spangled Banner (1779-1843)

poet lawyerlyricistpoetlawyerwriter
Born
1779-08-01, Terra Rubra
Died
1843-01-11
Birthplace state
Maryland

Biography

Francis Scott Key was born in 1779 in Terra Rubra, Maryland and died in 1843. A lawyer, poet, and author, he wrote "Defence of Fort M'Henry" after witnessing the British bombardment of Fort McHenry in Baltimore during the War of 1812 in 1814. His poem, set to the tune of "To Anacreon in Heaven," became known as "The Star-Spangled Banner" and eventually was established as the American national anthem in 1931.

Occupation

Francis Scott Key is recorded as a poet lawyer, a lyricist, a poet, a lawyer and a writer, born in Maryland (1779–1843).

Connections to Maryland

Francis Scott Key was born in Terra Rubra, Maryland in 1779. Explore other notable figures from Maryland, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.

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Francis Scott Key came from Terra Rubra. A full Aubrey report on Terra Rubra pulls together everything the historical record holds about that place, from the first settlers to the twentieth century:

Overview
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The Land
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Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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More notable figures from Maryland

Other historical figures born in Maryland, ranked by historical prominence.

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John Rawls
John Rawls
American political philosopher (1921–2002)
Tom Clancy
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Babe Ruth
Babe Ruth
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Spiro Agnew
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vice president of the United States from 1969 to 1973

Frequently asked about Francis Scott Key

Who was Francis Scott Key?
Francis Scott Key was American lawyer and poet who wrote The Star-Spangled Banner (1779-1843), born in Maryland (1779 – 1843).
When and where was Francis Scott Key born?
Francis Scott Key was born on 1779-08-01 in Terra Rubra.
When did Francis Scott Key die?
Francis died on 1843-01-11.
What was Francis Scott Key known for?
Francis Scott Key is recorded as a poet lawyer, a lyricist, a poet, a lawyer and a writer.
Source

Biographical content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source: Wikipedia.

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