Francis Scott Key, Who Wrote the Poem That Became America’s National Anthem, Instructs His Granddaughter on Learning to Write

Francis Scott Key was born in 1779 in western Maryland. His family was very wealthy and owned an estate called "Terra Rubra." When Francis was 10 years old, his parents sent him to grammar school in Annapolis. After graduating at the age of 17, he began to study law in Annapolis while working with his uncle's law firm. By 1805, he had a well-established law practice of his own in Georgetown, a surburb of Washington, D.C. By 1814, he had appeared many times before the Supreme Court, and had been appointed the United States District Attorney.

Following the British capture of Washington on August 24, 1814, Dr. William Beanes, a prominent physician was taken prisoner by the British. Since Key was a well-known lawyer, he was asked to assist in efforts to get Dr. Beanes released. Knowing that the British were in the Chesapeake Bay, Key left for Baltimore. There Key met with Colonel John Skinner, a government agent who arranged for prisoner exchanges. Together, on September 5, they set out on a small American flag-of-truce vessel to meet the Royal Navy.

On board the British flagship, HMS Tonnant, the officers were very kind to Key and Skinner. They agreed to release Dr. Beanes. However, the three men were not permitted to return to Baltimore until after the bombardment of Fort McHenry. The three Americans were placed aboard the American ship, and waited behind the British fleet. From a distance of approximately eight miles, Key and his friends watched the British bombard Fort McHenry.

After 25 hours of continuous bombing, the British decided to leave since they were unable to destroy the fort as they had hoped. Realizing that the British had ceased the attack, Key looked toward the fort to see if the U.S. flag was still there. To his relief, the flag was still flying! Quickly, he wrote down the words to a poem which was soon handed out as a handbill under the title "Defense of Fort McHenry." Later, the words were set to music, and renamed "The Star Spangled Banner." It became a popular patriotic song. It was not until March 3, 1931, however, that it became our national anthem.

Autograph letter signed, Washington, March 4, 1842, written to his granddaughter, Miss Ellen Turner, in which the famous writer advises her how to write. With address in Key’s hand,

"My dear Ellen, I am afraid you have got tired of waiting for my letter; and I must promise you the next time you write, to answer you sooner. I was glad to see you could write so clever a letter; & I hope you will give your little fingers a good chance to be useful, as they are growing, by practicing them every day in sewing and writing. Some young ladies are proud of their hands & take great pains to keep them white and nice, but unless they learn to sew and write neatly, they are good for nothing. I hope you will remember this, and keep your pens and needles going briskly. But fingers are not able, as you know, to write letters of themselves – you must have thoughts, and then put your thoughts into words, and then spell the words right, and then set the fingers a going. You see therefore that you must learn to think, & to express your thoughts. Reading, and considering and trying to understand and remember what you read, will help you in this: & I hope therefore you will be fond of reading. This summer I want your father and mother to bring you all to Pipe Creek: & then I shall hear you read and talk, & shall be much pleased to find you (as I hope I shall) much improved in every respect, and as good as clever. You shall see these two smart little cousins, who will be new acquaintances & very fond of you. The oldest of them, Clarence, reads now almost like a man: the other is too little to read, but is learning his letters. I want to see Frank very much. When I get you all at Pipe Creek, I think I shall start a school – a reading and writing school & a riding school — and I hope we shall all be very happy. Tell your father and mother that we are now looking out for them – Our winter is gone, & the flowers in bloom. I suppose your Mother’s garden is beautiful. Your Grandmama and Aunts Barton & Charles all send their love to you. And give mine to father and mother and all the children. Your affectionate Grandfather, F.S. Key”

This letter is published in “The Lost World of Francis Scott Key.”