Like so many famous songs of yore, "The Star-Spangled Banner" started as a poem, called “The Defence of Fort McHenry.” It was written by Francis Scott Key in 1814 during the War of 1812.

Forces commanded by Andrew Jackson fought the British in the Louisiana port city in the last standoff of the War of 1812 Sonja Anderson How the flag that flew proudly over Fort McHenry in ...