Written by American lawyer Francis Scott Key on September 14, 1814, after he had witnessed the bombing of Fort McHenry in Baltimore, MD, here is the original version of the national anthem of the United States, as he penned it, transcribed by me in Anniversary Gregg for the blog.
Set to the melody to The Anacreontic Song by British composer John Stafford Smith, the anthem became very popular during the 19th century: it was played during Independence Day celebrations, and in United States Army posts at the end of the century. In 1889 the United States Navy officially adopted the anthem, in 1916 President Woodrow Wilson ordered it to be played at military and other occasions, but it was not until March 3, 1931 that Congress passed a joint resolution making it the official national anthem of the United States. The resolution was signed into law by President Herbert Hoover.
Attachment: the-star-spangled-banner.pdf