Born: 1-Aug-1779
Birthplace: Frederick County, MD
Died: 11-Jan-1843
Location of death: Baltimore, MD
Cause of death: Illness
Remains: Buried, Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Frederick, MD

Gender: Male
Religion: Anglican/Episcopalian
Race or Ethnicity: White
Sexual orientation: Straight
Occupation: Poet

Nationality: United States
Executive summary: The Star-Spangled Banner

While detained aboard a British ship during the War of 1812, Key wrote the words of a poem, The Defense of Fort M'Henry. It was adopted by both the US Army and Navy, and then in 1931 as the national anthem of the United States, titled The Star-Spangled Banner, set to the music of a English beer-drinking song, To Anacreon in Heaven, composed by John Stafford Smith. Key died from pleurisy in 1843. Bridges in both Baltimore and Washington DC are named for him.

Defended Aaron Burr against charges of treason.

Father: John Ross Key
Mother: Anne Phoebe Penn Dagworthy Charlton Key
Sister: Anne
Wife: Mary Tayloe Lloyd ("Polly", m. 1802, eleven children)
Son: Philip Barton Key (b. 1818, d. 1859)
Daughter: Elizabeth Howard

    University: St. John's College, Annapolis, MD

    Songwriters Hall of Fame
    Exhumed 1866
    Slaveowners

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