Francis Scott Key *1779 - 1843* - Washington, D.C.
Posted by: 
flyingmoose
N 38° 54.280 W 077° 04.082
18S E 320677 N 4308230
A sign about Francis Scott Key.
Waymark Code: WM138RF
Location: District of Columbia, United States
Date Posted: 10/13/2020
Views: 3
One of three signs related to Francis Scott Key under the pergola within the park.
Sign Text:
Francis Scott Key *1779 - 1843*
The author of our National ANthem was a lawyer, patriot, community leader and amatuer poet. His home and law office stood approximately 100 yards west of here. Francis Scot Key lived there from 1803 to about 1833 with his wife, the former Mary Tayloe Lloyd of Annapolis, Maryland, and their six sons and five daughters. The house was demolished in 1947 after years of neglect by various owners.
During the War of 1812, British troops had invaded and captured Washington in August of 1814. They set fire to the Capitol, the White House and most Federal buildings. As they withdrew to their ships they took Dr. William Beanes prisoner because he had arrested some stragglers among the British troops for looting.
The popular and respected 35-year-old George Town lawyer Francis Scott Key came to the aid of friends skeeing Dr. Beanes' release' Under a flag of truce approved by President James Madison Key set sail with John Stuart Skinner and American Agent for prisoner exchange. They located the British fleet and boarded Admiral Cochrane's Royal Navy Flagship. Key successully argued for Dr. Beanes' release.
However lest they reveal the British plans to atack Fort McHenry and Baltimore, they were detained under guard aboard their ship. Througout the night of Spetember 13-14, 1814 Key stood on deck watching the bombardment of Fort McHenry. At dawn Key's anxiety was relieved. Our flag was still there! Key began to compose a poem on the back of a letter.
After the release after the British defeat, Key continued work on his poem. On the next day, he showed it to Chief justice Joseph Hopper Nicholson, a Fort McHenry defender. Nicholson was so moved he immediately had a broadside of the poem printed and circulated. That poem became The Star-Spangled Banner.
Francis Scott Key's law practice continued to flourish. He wass three times appinted to the post of U.S. Attourney for the District of Columbia. He was active in anti-slavery causes, advocated the establishment of public schools, negotiated a treatyy in 1833 between the Creek Indians and settlers in Alabama, and was vestryman of St. John's Church as well as a founder of Christ Church in George Town. On a trip to Baltimore in 1843, Francis Scott Key died of pneumonia on January 11 at the home of his eldest daughter, Mrs. Charles Howard. He is buried at Mt. Oliver Cemetery near his birthplace in Frederick, Maryland.