Francis Scott Key (1779-1843)
U.S. District Attorney & Author of "The Star Spangled Banner"
He was born into a wealthy plantation family in Maryland and graduated from St. John's College before establishing himself as a lawyer in Georgetown, Washington D.C., with a successful practice. His most famous moment came during the War of 1812. In September 1814, he sailed to a British fleet in Baltimore Harbor to negotiate the release of a friend, Dr. William Beanes, and was detained aboard a British ship during the bombardment of Fort McHenry. After witnessing the American flag still flying over the fort following the night-long attack, he was inspired to write the poem "Defence of Fort M'Henry," which was later set to music and became "The Star-Spangled Banner." Beyond this historic contribution, Key was a prominent attorney who argued cases before the Supreme Court and served as District Attorney for Washington D.C. from 1833 to 1841. He was deeply religious and involved himself in various social causes. Although slaveowner himself who sometimes represented owners of runaway slaves and suppressed abolitionists, he also publicly criticized slavery, and gave free legal representation to some slaves seeking freedom. In 1802, he marred Mary, daughter of Edward Lloyd, of Wye House, Talbot County, Maryland. They had eleven children (listed).
