Francis Scott Key: Meaning (information, definition, explanation, facts)

Francis Scott Key (August 1, 1779 - January 11, 1843) was an American lawyer and amateur poet. He is buried in Frederick, Maryland and is an alumnus of St. John's College, Annapolis.

During the War of 1812, Key was detained on a British ship during the battle for Fort McHenry in Baltimore, Maryland harbor. Upon seeing the US flag still flying at dawn, he was inspired to write a poem celebrating the American victory. His poem was later set to music as The Star-Spangled Banner, and was adopted as the American national anthem in 1931.

Key was a collateral ancestor of F. Scott Fitzgerald.