F.S. Key And The Song That Built America

"F.S. Key And The Song That Built America" celebrates the 200th anniversary of Francis Scott Key's writing of America's national anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner." Key, a constitutional lawyer, famously penned the lyrics following the 12-hour bombardment of Fort McHenry in September 1814.

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Francis Scott Key portrait by Joseph Wood c1825.

Courtesy of American Public Television

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Deborah Hazlett portrays Key's wife, Polly.

Courtesy of American Public Television

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Francis Scott Key's first view of British Fleet in Chesapeake.

Courtesy of © 2014 Maryland Public Television

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Attack on Fort McHenry.

Courtesy of © 2014 Maryland Public Television

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British burn the Capitol, 1814.

Courtesy of © 2014 Maryland Public Television

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The White House after the Battle.

Courtesy of © 2014 Maryland Public Television

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One of two surviving copies of the 1812 printing of "Defense of Fort McHenry," a poem by Francis Scott Key that later became the national anthem of the United States.

Courtesy of American Public Television

Against a backdrop of history, and through the eyes of Key's loving wife Polly (played by Deborah Hazlett), the film highlights Key’s personal life, legal career and artistic development. The documentary covers Key's major cases (including the Aaron Burr conspiracy), his vehement opposition to the War of 1812, his enlistment in the militia, his participation in the ill-fated defense of Washington, D.C., and his penchant for poetry and art. "The Star Spangled Banner" become our national anthem in 1931.

"F.S. Key And The Song That Built America" is on Facebook.