One night in the early fall of 1814, the governmental buildings of America were intensely engulfed in flames. The destruction of the nation’s capital beckoned the British troops to advance into Baltimore, and lead 25 hours of bombardments. With each explosion, the sky lit in red glares. An American lawyer, Francis Scott Key, was held captive within one of Britain’s naval vessels, inquisite to the outcome of the war in his mother country’s favor. The following day, through the bomb’s wavering fog, the American flag flew over the fortress. Inspired by his country’s victory, Key wrote the lines to “The Star-Spangled Banner”, the national anthem of the United States of America.

Francis Scott Key was born on August 1st, 1779, in Frederick County, Maryland, United States of America. Key was of a wealthy and reverent upbringing. He grew up with his family on their estate, the Terra Rubra. Key nearly joined the Episcopal priesthood, the church of England succeeded in the American colonies. Alternatively, influenced by his judge of a father, he studied to become a lawyer. Key passed the bar examinations and proceeded as a lawyer in his private practice. He regularly appeared before the U.S. Supreme Court during his earlier times as a legal representative. In 1804, he and his wife, Mary Tayloe Lloyd, moved and settled into their …show more content…
Consequently, the American government called war against Britain. This conflict came to be known as the war of 1812. America, as the army was limited and untrained, seemed like no match for the British super powers, that were fiercely struggling for global domination with Napoleon’s France. Because of his faith, Key was one of many who opposed the war. Although, he fought in the Battle of Bladensburg in 1813 as part of the Georgetown militia