The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1895-04-26
FRANCIS SCOTT KEY.
A Brief Biography of the Author
of"The Star Spangled Banner"


The simple fact that Francis Scott
Key was the author of one of our ma
tional anthems is sufficient to assure to
his memory fame identical with that
of his sublime production. But there
are circumstances connected with the
writing and inspiration of this song
that are not familiar to large portion
OF the American people. Francis Scott
Key was eminent in his day for his le-
gal fame, his effective oratory, his po-
etic genius and christian virtues.
His father, John Ross Key, was the
owner Of fine estate in Frederick
County, Md. 1t was situated at Pipe
Creek, aud here the subject of our
sketch was born. The homestead is
still remembered by some of the oldest
residents of the county aud retains
much of the ancient interest. After
completing his legal studies with his
uncle, Philip Barton Key, ST., Francis
Scott commenced the practice of his
profession at Frederick, but subsequent
~ removed to Washington; here he
became acquainted with the eccentric
but famous Virginia state man, John
Randolph, of Roanoke, and the two
remained fast friends to the death of
Randolph. He also won the good
graces of President Andrew Jackson;
from him receiving the appointment of
United States District Attorney for
the District of Columbia.
He was the father of eleven children.
One of them, Philip Barton Key, was
slain by General Daniel +. Sickles. An
other son, Samuel p. Key, was killed
in duel, at Bladensburg, by Mr.
Sherburne, of New Hampshire. One
of his daughters was the late Mrs. Geo.
ii. Pendlet0n, wife of the late eX-Sen-
ator Pendleton, of Ohio. Another one
Of his sons, Frank Scott Key, Jr., was
at one time resident of Finksburg,
Carol County, Md, where the writer's
father and he were personal acquain-
tances; but the key fate" overlook
this one also, and from being in opu-
lent circumstances he became very
poor.
The personal appearance of the ia
nous author is thus described by an
intimate friend: "He was tall and of
admirable physical proportion. There
dwelt usually upon his winning fea-
lures soft and touching pensiveness
of expression, almost bordering on sad
ness, but which, in moments of special
excitement, or where anything occur
red to waken the dormant heroism of
his nature, or to call into play the
higher power of vigorous and cult
waited intellect, gave place to bright
ened aspect and a noble audacity of
tone which pleased while it dazzled
the beholder."
During his life Mr.. Key was frequent
ly honored by distinguished attention
from the people of his native county.
On one occasion he was rendered a
public entertainment at which the fol-
lowing toast was offered by the conf
pany: "Francis Scott Key--a friend
of the administration and an incorrupt-
ible patriot; worthy of being honored
wherever genius is admired or liberty
cherished, as the author of 1.-THE Star
Sp lngled Banner"
The administration referred to by
this toast was that of Andrew Jack
sons. In his response he made the
following allusion to himsnlf and the
song that he composed:
"fhey had recalled to his recollec-
ton the circumstances under which he
had been impelled to this effort. He
had seen the flag of his country wav-
ing over city, the strength and pride
of his native State-a city devoted to
plumber and desolation by its assail-
ants. He witnessed the preparations
tor Its assault and saw the array of its
enemies as they advanced to the at
tack. He heard the sounds of battle;
the noise of conflict fell upon his listen
ing ear and told him the brave and
the free had met the invaders. Then
did he remember that Maryland had
called her sons to the defence of that
flag and that they were the sons of
sires who had left their crimson foot
prints on the SHOWS of the North and
poured out the blood of patriots like
water on the sands of the South. Then
did he remember that they were gath
cred around the banner as its defend
ers, men who had heard and answered
the call of their country from the
mountain sides, from their beautiful
valleys and from the fair city of his
native county, and though he walked
upon a deck surrounded by Il hostile
fleet, yet was his step firm and his
heart strong as the recollection came
upon him."
Through the clouds of war the stars
of that banner still shone to his view
and he saw the discomfitted hosts of
his assailants driven back in ignominy
to their ships"
"Then in that hour of deliverance and
joyful triumph the heart spoke, and
does not such "a country and such de-
tenders of their country deserve song?
was its question.
with it came an inspiration not to
be resisted, and if it had been "a hang.
ing matter to have made a song he
must have made it. Let the praise,
then, if any be due. be given not to
the maker, who only did what he
could not help doing, but the cause of
the inspiring of the song"
In the Library of Congress there is a
little volume, probably the only one in
existence, containing compilation Of
his poems, humorous, patriotic, solemn
and sentimental. One of these is "a
beautiful story in verse of the noble
mans son, from the text yesterday
at the seventh hour, the fever left him."
A al ur nat .tG,fi IN 10 In fol l.Nxxy