Francis Scott Key

Francis Scott Key was an American lawyer, author, and poet from Frederick, Maryland, best known as the author of the text of the American national anthem "The Star-Spangled Banner". Key observed the British bombardment of Fort McHenry in 1814 during the War of 1812. He was inspired upon seeing the American flag still flying over the fort at dawn and wrote the poem "Defence of Fort M'Henry"; it was published within a week with the suggested tune of the popular song "To Anacreon in Heaven". The song with Key's lyrics became known as "The Star-Spangled Banner" and slowly gained in popularity as an unofficial anthem, finally achieving official status as the national anthem more than a century later under President Herbert Hoover.

1 August 1779

Born on the same birth date (1 August 1779): Lorenz Oken

Born on the same birth day (1 August): Al D'Amato • Andrei Borissov • Andy Blignaut • Augusta Read Thomas • Bazil Assan • Bob Frankford • Charles I, Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel • Giancarlo Giannini • Pia Haraldsen • Rob Buck • Stuart Holden

Born in the same month (August 1779): Carl Ritter • Jöns Jacob Berzelius • Lorenz Oken