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On this day in 1814, Francis Scott Key pens a poem which is later set to music and in 1931 becomes America’s national anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner.” The poem, originally titled “The Defence of Fort McHenry,” was written after Key witnessed the Maryland fort being bombarded by the British during the War of 1812. Key was inspired by the sight of a lone U.S. flag still flying over Fort McHenry at daybreak, as reflected in the now-famous words of the “Star-Spangled Banner”: “And the rocket’s red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.”
Francis Scott Key was born on August 1, 1779, at Terra Rubra, his family’s estate in Frederick County (now Carroll County), Maryland. He became a successful lawyer in Maryland and Washington, D.C., and was later appointed U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia.
On June 18, 1812, America declared war on Great Britain after a series of trade disagreements. In August 1814, British troops invaded Washington, D.C., and burned the White House, Capitol Building and Library of Congress. Their next target was Baltimore.
After one of Key’s friends, Dr. William Beanes, was taken prisoner by the British, Key went to Baltimore, located the ship where Beanes was being held and negotiated his release. However, Key and Beanes weren’t allowed to leave until after the British bombardment of Fort McHenry. Key watched the bombing campaign unfold from aboard a ship located about eight miles away. After a day, the British were unable to destroy the fort and gave up. Key was relieved to see the American flag still flying over Fort McHenry and quickly penned a few lines in tribute to what he had witnessed.
The poem was printed in newspapers and eventually set to the music of a popular English drinking tune called “To Anacreon in Heaven” by composer John Stafford Smith. People began referring to the song as “The Star-Spangled Banner” and in 1916 President Woodrow Wilson announced that it should be played at all official events. It was adopted as the national anthem on March 3, 1931.
Francis Scott Key died of pleurisy on January 11, 1843. Today, the flag that flew over Fort McHenry in 1914 is housed at the Smithsonian Institution’s Museum of American History in Washington, D.C.
Francis Scott Key was born on August 1, 1779, at Terra Rubra, his family’s estate in Frederick County (now Carroll County), Maryland. He became a successful lawyer in Maryland and Washington, D.C., and was later appointed U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia.
On June 18, 1812, America declared war on Great Britain after a series of trade disagreements. In August 1814, British troops invaded Washington, D.C., and burned the White House, Capitol Building and Library of Congress. Their next target was Baltimore.
After one of Key’s friends, Dr. William Beanes, was taken prisoner by the British, Key went to Baltimore, located the ship where Beanes was being held and negotiated his release. However, Key and Beanes weren’t allowed to leave until after the British bombardment of Fort McHenry. Key watched the bombing campaign unfold from aboard a ship located about eight miles away. After a day, the British were unable to destroy the fort and gave up. Key was relieved to see the American flag still flying over Fort McHenry and quickly penned a few lines in tribute to what he had witnessed.
The poem was printed in newspapers and eventually set to the music of a popular English drinking tune called “To Anacreon in Heaven” by composer John Stafford Smith. People began referring to the song as “The Star-Spangled Banner” and in 1916 President Woodrow Wilson announced that it should be played at all official events. It was adopted as the national anthem on March 3, 1931.
Francis Scott Key died of pleurisy on January 11, 1843. Today, the flag that flew over Fort McHenry in 1914 is housed at the Smithsonian Institution’s Museum of American History in Washington, D.C.
This Day in History
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War of 1812
United States War of 1812
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The song was written for the Anacreontic Society, probably around 1771. The tune (...) is now thought to have been written "collectively" by members of the s...
Thanks for reminding us my friend TSgt Joe C. that on September 14, 1814, Francis Scott Key penned the poem "Defence of Fort M'Henry", later known as "The Star-Spangled Banner" while witnessing the bombardment of Fort McHenry from a ship in Baltimore harbor.
The poem would eventually be sung to the tune of drinking song "The Anacreon Song"
Image: The actual flag that flew over Fort McHenry on the morning of September 14, 1814, helping to inspire the Star Spangled Banner
Background on the tune and the name from todayifoundout.com/index.php/2012/07/the-melody-for-the-star-spangled-banner-was-taken-from-a-drinking-song/
"The melody that would be borrowed for the Star Spangled Banner was extremely popular and well known at the time the future U.S. national anthem was penned. It is known to have been used for at least 84 popular songs in the United States alone, including Adams and Liberty – The Boston Patriotic Song and the subsequent tune Jefferson and Liberty, written after Jefferson was elected President.
The original song that used the melody was To Anacreon in Heaven, written sometime between 1760 and the late 1770s, expounding on the virtues of wine. The song itself was first publicly published in The Vocal Magazine in 1778 in London. The music was composed by John Stafford Smith and the lyrics are thought to have been written by Ralph Tomlinson, president of the Anacreon Society, which was a popular gentleman’s club in London whose membership were dedicated to “wit, harmony, and the god of wine”. The society chose the famed Greek poet Anacreon as their “patron saint” as he was particularly known for composing odes to merrymaking, women, and wine- among the Anacreon Society’s favorite things.
The full lyrics to "To Anacreon in Heaven" are:
To Anacreon in Heav’n, where he sat in full glee,
A few Sons of Harmony sent a petition;
That he their Inspirer and Patron wou’d be;
When this answer arrived from the Jolly Old Grecian;
“Voice, Fiddle, and Flute,
No longer be mute,
I’ll lend you my name and inspire you to boot,
And besides I’ll instruct you like me, to intwine,
The Myrtle of Venus with Bacchus’s Vine.”
The news through Olympus immediately flew;
When Old Thunder pretended to give himself airs.
If these Mortals are suffered their scheme to pursue,
The Devil, a Goddess, will stay above stairs.
“Hark,” already they cry,
“In transports of joy,
Away to the Sons of Anacreon we’ll fly.
And besides I’ll instruct you like me, to intwine,
The Myrtle of Venus with Bacchus’s Vine.
The Yellow-Haired God and his nine lusty Maids,
From Helion’s banks will incontinent flee,
Idalia will boast but of tenantless Shades,
And the bi-forked hill a mere desert will be.
My Thunder no fear on’t,
Shall soon do it’s errand,
And damme I’ll swing the Ringleaders I warrant,
I’ll trim the young dogs, for thus daring to twine,
The Myrtle of Venus with Bacchus’s Vine.”
Apollo rose up and said, “Pry’thee ne’er quarrel,
Good sing of the Gods with my Vot’ries below:
Your Thunder is useless” — then showing his laurel,
Cry’d “Sic evitable fulmen” you know!
“Then over each head
My laurels I’ll spread
So my sons from your Crackers no mischief shall dread,
While snug in their clubroom, they jovially twine,
The Myrtle of Venus with Bacchus’s Vine.’
Next Momus got up with his risible Phiz
And swore with Apollo he’d cheerfully join —
‘The full tide of Harmony still shall be his,
But the Song, and the Catch, and the Laugh,
shall be mine.
Then Jove be not jealous
Of these honest fellows,”
Cry’d Jove, “We relent since the truth you now tell us;
And swear by Old Styx, that they long shall intwine,
The Myrtle of Venus with Bacchus’s Vine.”
Ye Sons of Anacreon then join hand in hand;
Preserve Unanimity, Friendship, and Love!
‘Tis yours to support what’s so happily plann’d;
You’ve the sanction of Gods, and the Fiat of Jove.
While thus we agree,
Our toast let it be:
“May our Club flourish Happy, United, and Free!
And long may the Sons of Anacreon intwine,
The Myrtle of Venus with Bacchus’s Vine.
The tune to this little ditty became wildly popular and was adapted to a variety of other lyrics, as was the practice at the time. The lyrics that ultimately became the most historic to use the tune were those written by attorney Francis Scott Key while he sat on a British ship at a distance from the Battle of Fort McHenry that took place on September 13-14, 1814 during the War of 1812.
Key was a temporary prisoner aboard a British ship, along with his companion Colonel John Stuart Skinner, as they’d been sent there to try to secure the release of a few Americans, including an American doctor being held by the British, Dr. William Beanes. During dinner with Vice Admiral Alexander Cochrane, Rear Admiral Sir George Cockburn, and Major General Robert Ross, Key and Skinner plead the case for the release of the prisoners, which they eventually got the British to do in the case of the elderly Dr. Beanes. However, Key and Skinner were held for the duration of the battle as they’d had occasion to observe the strength and apparent strategy of the British forces. So they were not to be released until after the battle was over, held on a ship about four miles from the battle front for their safety.
Key wrote some of the lyrics during his stay on the British prisoner ship, after seeing the “flag was still there”. The rest he finished up at the Indian Queen Hotel when he was released in Baltimore two days after the battle. The lyrics were first published in the Baltimore Patriot and The American newspapers on September 20, 1814 under the title Defence of Fort McHenry. It was quickly picked up by fifteen other newspapers in the United States and its popularity grew from there.
It wouldn’t be published under the name “Star Spangled Banner” until Thomas Carr started selling the lyrics and sheet music together at his music shop in Baltimore under that title. As for when it became the United States’ official national anthem, that occurred on March 3, 1931 when President Herbert Hoover signed a Congressional resolution into law to this effect. Before this happened, Hail, Columbia (“Columbia” being an alternate name for America particularly common in the 18th century) and My Country, ‘Tis of Thee were often more popularly used in that role."
The Anacreon Song
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydAIdVKv84g
FYI Debbie Pomeroy Cloud Kathlean KeeslerSGT Tim Fridley (Join to see) Michael Horne SSG David Andrews SGT Mark Halmrast CW5 Jack Cardwell Cynthia CroftSPC Gary Welch SGT Rick Colburn SMSgt Tom Burns SP5 Geoffrey Vannerson SPC Paul C. SFC Stephen Lucas MSgt Dale Johnson Capt (Join to see) CWO3 Randy Weston Alan K.
The poem would eventually be sung to the tune of drinking song "The Anacreon Song"
Image: The actual flag that flew over Fort McHenry on the morning of September 14, 1814, helping to inspire the Star Spangled Banner
Background on the tune and the name from todayifoundout.com/index.php/2012/07/the-melody-for-the-star-spangled-banner-was-taken-from-a-drinking-song/
"The melody that would be borrowed for the Star Spangled Banner was extremely popular and well known at the time the future U.S. national anthem was penned. It is known to have been used for at least 84 popular songs in the United States alone, including Adams and Liberty – The Boston Patriotic Song and the subsequent tune Jefferson and Liberty, written after Jefferson was elected President.
The original song that used the melody was To Anacreon in Heaven, written sometime between 1760 and the late 1770s, expounding on the virtues of wine. The song itself was first publicly published in The Vocal Magazine in 1778 in London. The music was composed by John Stafford Smith and the lyrics are thought to have been written by Ralph Tomlinson, president of the Anacreon Society, which was a popular gentleman’s club in London whose membership were dedicated to “wit, harmony, and the god of wine”. The society chose the famed Greek poet Anacreon as their “patron saint” as he was particularly known for composing odes to merrymaking, women, and wine- among the Anacreon Society’s favorite things.
The full lyrics to "To Anacreon in Heaven" are:
To Anacreon in Heav’n, where he sat in full glee,
A few Sons of Harmony sent a petition;
That he their Inspirer and Patron wou’d be;
When this answer arrived from the Jolly Old Grecian;
“Voice, Fiddle, and Flute,
No longer be mute,
I’ll lend you my name and inspire you to boot,
And besides I’ll instruct you like me, to intwine,
The Myrtle of Venus with Bacchus’s Vine.”
The news through Olympus immediately flew;
When Old Thunder pretended to give himself airs.
If these Mortals are suffered their scheme to pursue,
The Devil, a Goddess, will stay above stairs.
“Hark,” already they cry,
“In transports of joy,
Away to the Sons of Anacreon we’ll fly.
And besides I’ll instruct you like me, to intwine,
The Myrtle of Venus with Bacchus’s Vine.
The Yellow-Haired God and his nine lusty Maids,
From Helion’s banks will incontinent flee,
Idalia will boast but of tenantless Shades,
And the bi-forked hill a mere desert will be.
My Thunder no fear on’t,
Shall soon do it’s errand,
And damme I’ll swing the Ringleaders I warrant,
I’ll trim the young dogs, for thus daring to twine,
The Myrtle of Venus with Bacchus’s Vine.”
Apollo rose up and said, “Pry’thee ne’er quarrel,
Good sing of the Gods with my Vot’ries below:
Your Thunder is useless” — then showing his laurel,
Cry’d “Sic evitable fulmen” you know!
“Then over each head
My laurels I’ll spread
So my sons from your Crackers no mischief shall dread,
While snug in their clubroom, they jovially twine,
The Myrtle of Venus with Bacchus’s Vine.’
Next Momus got up with his risible Phiz
And swore with Apollo he’d cheerfully join —
‘The full tide of Harmony still shall be his,
But the Song, and the Catch, and the Laugh,
shall be mine.
Then Jove be not jealous
Of these honest fellows,”
Cry’d Jove, “We relent since the truth you now tell us;
And swear by Old Styx, that they long shall intwine,
The Myrtle of Venus with Bacchus’s Vine.”
Ye Sons of Anacreon then join hand in hand;
Preserve Unanimity, Friendship, and Love!
‘Tis yours to support what’s so happily plann’d;
You’ve the sanction of Gods, and the Fiat of Jove.
While thus we agree,
Our toast let it be:
“May our Club flourish Happy, United, and Free!
And long may the Sons of Anacreon intwine,
The Myrtle of Venus with Bacchus’s Vine.
The tune to this little ditty became wildly popular and was adapted to a variety of other lyrics, as was the practice at the time. The lyrics that ultimately became the most historic to use the tune were those written by attorney Francis Scott Key while he sat on a British ship at a distance from the Battle of Fort McHenry that took place on September 13-14, 1814 during the War of 1812.
Key was a temporary prisoner aboard a British ship, along with his companion Colonel John Stuart Skinner, as they’d been sent there to try to secure the release of a few Americans, including an American doctor being held by the British, Dr. William Beanes. During dinner with Vice Admiral Alexander Cochrane, Rear Admiral Sir George Cockburn, and Major General Robert Ross, Key and Skinner plead the case for the release of the prisoners, which they eventually got the British to do in the case of the elderly Dr. Beanes. However, Key and Skinner were held for the duration of the battle as they’d had occasion to observe the strength and apparent strategy of the British forces. So they were not to be released until after the battle was over, held on a ship about four miles from the battle front for their safety.
Key wrote some of the lyrics during his stay on the British prisoner ship, after seeing the “flag was still there”. The rest he finished up at the Indian Queen Hotel when he was released in Baltimore two days after the battle. The lyrics were first published in the Baltimore Patriot and The American newspapers on September 20, 1814 under the title Defence of Fort McHenry. It was quickly picked up by fifteen other newspapers in the United States and its popularity grew from there.
It wouldn’t be published under the name “Star Spangled Banner” until Thomas Carr started selling the lyrics and sheet music together at his music shop in Baltimore under that title. As for when it became the United States’ official national anthem, that occurred on March 3, 1931 when President Herbert Hoover signed a Congressional resolution into law to this effect. Before this happened, Hail, Columbia (“Columbia” being an alternate name for America particularly common in the 18th century) and My Country, ‘Tis of Thee were often more popularly used in that role."
The Anacreon Song
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydAIdVKv84g
FYI Debbie Pomeroy Cloud Kathlean KeeslerSGT Tim Fridley (Join to see) Michael Horne SSG David Andrews SGT Mark Halmrast CW5 Jack Cardwell Cynthia CroftSPC Gary Welch SGT Rick Colburn SMSgt Tom Burns SP5 Geoffrey Vannerson SPC Paul C. SFC Stephen Lucas MSgt Dale Johnson Capt (Join to see) CWO3 Randy Weston Alan K.
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