John’s and studied law under his uncle Philip Barton Key in 1796. John’s College, where he studied Latin, Greek, mathematics, grammar, and the sciences. Key moved to Annapolis in 1789 to attend preparatory school at St. Key looked back on his childhood fondly, and wrote a poem entitled “To My Sister” in which he reflects on the “bright hours” he spent with her on the family plantation. Francis Scott Key, or “Frankie”, was particularly close to his sister Anne Phoebe Charlton Key. Members of the Key family practiced law, became elected officials, and fought both for and against the British during the American Revolution.
He was raised by a wealthy family on a plantation supported by enslaved labor called Terra Rubra (“red earth”). Early Lifeįrancis Scott Key was born on Augin Frederick County, Maryland. It became “The Star Spangled Banner” and was soon a national air like “Yankee Doodle” and “Hail Columbia.” In 1931, Key’s song was designated as the national anthem of the United States. In four stanzas, Key wrote “The Defense of Fort M’Henry.” The words spread like wildfire throughout the young nation. This image inspired Key to write about what he had seen. He had witnessed Britain’s twenty-five hour bombardment of the Fort, and for Key, the raising of the American flag was a triumphant symbol of bravery and perseverance. Francis Scott Key stood aboard the deck of an American truce ship on Septemand watched the raising of Fort McHenry’s large garrison flag over the ramparts.