who wrote the national anthem for the united states of america

Francis Scott Key wrote the words to the national anthem of the United States, “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

Who wrote it?

• The lyrics of the United States national anthem come from a poem titled “Defence of Fort M'Henry,” written by American lawyer and amateur poet Francis Scott Key in 1814.

• Key wrote the poem after witnessing the British bombardment of Fort McHenry during the War of 1812 and seeing the American flag still flying at dawn.

What about the music?

• The melody was not composed by Key; it was adapted from a British song called “To Anacreon in Heaven,” written by composer John Stafford Smith in the late 18th century.

• Key’s poem was later fitted to this tune and published as “The Star-Spangled Banner” in 1814, gradually becoming popular as a patriotic song in the United States.

When did it become the official anthem?

• Although widely used in the 19th century, “The Star-Spangled Banner” was only officially adopted as the national anthem of the United States by an act of Congress in 1931, signed by President Herbert Hoover.

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