Wednesday, August 1, 2007

Today is the birthday of Francis Scott Key. His 1814 poem, "The Defense of Fort McHenry," written at the Battle of Baltimore during the War of 1812 became the American national anthem in 1916 under its alternate name, "The Star Spangled Banner."



At the time of the Battle of Baltimore, the American flag had 15 stars and 15 stripes, to incorporate the addition of Vermont and Kentucky to the original 13 states. It was the only version of the flag with more than 13 stripes and was used from 1795-1818.