FRANCIS SCOTT KEY PARK MEMORIAL STATUE

DURING THE WAR OF 1812 KEY ACCOMPANIED BY THE BRITISH EXCHANGE COLONEL JOHN STUART SKINNER, DINED ABOARD THE BRITISH SHIP HMS TONNANT. KEY AND SKINNER WERE THERE TO NEGOTIATE THE RELEASE OF PRISONERS. THEY WERE NOT ALLOWED TO LEAVE THE BRITISH SHIP BECAUSE THEY HAD BECOME FAMILIAR WITH THE STRENGTH AND POSITION OF THE BRITISH UNITS AND WITH BRITISH INTENT TO ATTACK BALTIMORE. THUS, KEY WAS UNABLE TO DO ANYTHING BUT WATCH THE BOMBARDING OF AMERICAN FORCES AT FORT MCHENRY DURING THE BATTLE OF BALTIMORE ON THE NIGHT OF SEPTEMBER 13-14 1814. AT DAWN, KEY WAS ABLE TO SEE AN AMERICAN FLAG STILL WAVING. ONCE BACK IN BALTIMORE AND INSPIRED, KEY WROTE A POEM ABOUT HIS EXPERIENCE “DEFENSE OF FORT MCHENRY.” HE THEN TOOK THE POEM TO A MUSIC PUBLISHER AND IT BECAME KNOWN AS “THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER.” MORE THAN A CENTURY AFTER ITS FIRST PUBLICATION. THE SONG WAS ADOPTED AS THE AMERICAN NATIONAL ANTHEM.
SEE ALSO-FRANCIS SCOTT KEY PARK MEMORIAL STONE