Author; born in
Frederick county, Md., Aug. 9, 1780; was a lawyer and poet, and, removing to
Washington, D. C., became district attorney.
A collection of his poems was
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Francis Scott Key. |
published after his death, in
Baltimore, Jan. 11. 1843.
The Star-Spangled banner
On the return of the
British to their vessels after the capture of
Washington, they carried with them
Dr. Beanes, an influential and well-known physician of
Upper Marlboro.
His friends begged for his release, but
Admiral Cockburn refused to give him up, and sent him on board the flag-ship of
Admiral Cochrane.
Key, then a resident of
Georgetown, well known for his affability of manner, was requested to go to
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Signature of Francis Scott Key. |
Cochrane as a solicitor for the release of the doctor.
He consented, and the
President granted him permission.
In company with
John S. Skinner, a well-known citizen of
Baltimore, he went in the cartel-ship
Minden, under a flag of truce.
They found the British ships at the mouth of the
Potomac, preparing to attack
Baltimore.
Cochrane agreed to release
Beanes,
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248]
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Fac-Simile of the original manuscript of the first stanza of “the Star-Spangled banner.”
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249]
but refused to allow him or his friends to return then.
They were placed on board the
Surprise, where they were courteously treated.
When the fleet went up Patapsco Bay, they were sent back to the
Minden, with a guard of marines to prevent their landing and conveying information to their countrymen.
the
Minden was anchored within sight of
Fort McHenry, and from her decks the three friends observed the fierce bombardment of the fort which soon ensued.
It ceased before the dawn (Sept. 14, 1814). The anxious
Americans did not know whether the fort had surrendered or not. They awaited the appearance of daylight with painful suspense.
In the dim light of the opening morning they saw through their glasses the starspangled banner yet waving in triumph over the fort, and soon learned the fate of the land expedition against
Baltimore and preparations of the discomfited
British for speedy departure.
When the fleet was ready to sail, Key and his friends were released, and returned to the city.
It was during the excitement of the bombardment, and when pacing the deck of the
Minden between midnight and dawn, that Key composed the popular song,
The Star-Spangled banner, the first stanza of which expressed the feelings of thousands of eyewitnesses of the scene, and is reproduced on the preceding page from the original manuscript.
The rude substance of the song was written on the back of a letter which Key happened to have in his pocket.
On the night after his return to
Baltimore he wrote it out in full and read it to his uncle,
Judge Nicholson, one of the defenders of the fort, and asked his opinion of it. The pleased judge took it to the printing-office of
Capt. Benjamin Edes, and caused it to be printed in hand-bill form.
Samuel Sands set up the song in type, printed it, and distributed it among the citizens.
It was first sung by
Charles Durang, at a restaurant next door to the
Holliday Street Theatre,
Baltimore, to an assemblage of patriotic defenders of
Baltimore, and after that nightly at the theatre and everywhere in public and private.
