Star-Spangled Banner becomes official March 3, 1931 On this day in 1931, President Herbert Hoover signed into law legislation making “The Star-Spangled Banner” the nation’s official national anthem.
Francis Scott Key (1779-1843) composed the poem that became "The Star-Spangled Banner” on Sept. 14, 1814, after witnessing the massive overnight British bombardment of Fort McHenry in Baltimore harbor, a key assault during the War of 1812. Key, a lawyer, watched the siege while being detained aboard ship by British sailors. He penned the words after observing, with shock and awe, that the flag – with its 15 stars and 15 stripes – had survived the nearly 1,800-bomb assault.
A Baltimore newspaper published the patriotic lyrics, which had circulated as a handbill, a week after the bombardment. Key’s words were later set to the tune of “To Anacreon in Heaven,” a popular English song. Throughout the 19th century, most branches of the U.S. armed forces and other groups regarded “The Star Spangled Banner” as the national anthem. (The Navy recognized it for official use in 1889.)
Francis Scott Key (1779-1843) composed the poem that became "The Star-Spangled Banner” on Sept. 14, 1814, after witnessing the massive overnight British bombardment of Fort McHenry in Baltimore harbor, a key assault during the War of 1812. Key, a lawyer, watched the siege while being detained aboard ship by British sailors. He penned the words after observing, with shock and awe, that the flag – with its 15 stars and 15 stripes – had survived the nearly 1,800-bomb assault.
A Baltimore newspaper published the patriotic lyrics, which had circulated as a handbill, a week after the bombardment. Key’s words were later set to the tune of “To Anacreon in Heaven,” a popular English song. Throughout the 19th century, most branches of the U.S. armed forces and other groups regarded “The Star Spangled Banner” as the national anthem. (The Navy recognized it for official use in 1889.)
