Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1915-09-13
STAR SPANGLED BANNER
HOW IT WAS WRITTEN
The Man But for Whom the I'm
mortal Song Would Never
Have Been Composed.
COL. JOHN STEWART SKINNER.
Patriot Agriculturist and Maryland
Gentleman---A Friend of Francis
Scott Kew.


more from the British, and changed
the annals of American history. to re-
call at this time the national anthem
THE Star Spangled Banner" and how
it came to be written.
In paper written for the Patriotic
Marylander. under the title of Cot
John Skinner" by Mrs. weems Ridout
Regent of the Peggy Stewart Tea Party
Chapter. Daughters of the American
Revolution, Mrs. Bidout says
Lord God of Hosts, be with US yet,
Lest we forget! Lest we forget!
While the whole nation is ringing
with the echoes of the Centennial OF the
Star Spangled Banner" | will sing
the praises of the man but for whom
that immortal song might never have
been written.
While the world is resounding with
the slogan. Back to the Soil" ] will
proclaim its first advocate. the man
who first saw the possibilities of sue
cess in standing by the soil, and who
gave his life to the advancement OF his
theories.
] sing of John Stewart Skinner. pa
triot, agriculturist, writer and Mary
land gentleman: the friend of Francis
Scott Key, the friend of Presidents Mad
ison, Monroe and Jackson. that when
we are honoring the heroes of 1912 he
be not forgotten, but placed in the front
rank with them, as he Justly deserves
to be, for it was on the deck of his yes
sci, the Government cartel "Minden. 4"
under a flag of truce, that the Star
Spangled Banner" was written. Not
on the deck or in the hold. of any bat
tleship whatsoever was il written as it
is the widespread and erroneous idea
SO perplexing to the masses. and es-
pecially to the children.
The history of this great and good
man can best be told in the words of
others.
The historians J. Thomas Scharff.
says of him: In years gone by John
Stewart Skinner was closely identified
with the history of Baltimore and the
nation" And as his achievements have
been forgotten or are unknown tomost
persons, l have thought brief sketch
of his life would prove of interest. /
have never seen a complete published
sketch OF John S. SINNERS life. and I
feel, therefore, it is my duty to place
on record the material / have collect
ed telling of his public and private eff
forts to advance the interests of soci-
ETY. and to add to the glory of our emo
monwealth
John Stewart Skinner studied law
In 1912 he was the agent of the United
States Government in charge of nego-
tiation with the British forces in the
Chesapeake Bay. He was with Fran
els Scott Key, prisoner of the British.
when Mr. Key wrote the "Star Spangled
Banner" during the bombardment Of
Fort McHenry in the harbor of Balti-
more.
MIR. Skinner was postmaster of Bal
timore from 1922 to 1897 In 1924 he
entertained General Lafayette during
his visit to Baltimore and was selected
by that illustrious Frenchman as agent
to manage the 100000 acres of land
grantedw to him by Congress.
Mr.. Skinner was an extensive pub
User of works relating to the farm and
turf, and in 1919 established the"Amer-
lean Farmer" the first agricultural
paper published in the United States
After long and eventful life Mr..
Skinner was accidentally killed by fall
ing down a stairway in the postofilce
in Baltimore. His obituary says OF
him: I'm every essential composing
as whole of his character he was en-
titled to place in the first rank of
humanity"
The following most interesting ac-
count of Mr.. Skinner and his connec-
ton with the writing of the Star Span
gled Banner" appears in a very COM
prehensive article in the Marlborough
Gazette" of June 81, 1854:
In the fall of 1913 Mr.. Skinner was
ordered to remove his office to Balti-
more, and before he was fairly estab-
lished there he was offered a purser's
commission by The Secretary of the
Navy. This unexpected honor he at
first declined, having no taste for a
nat teal life,and supposing that at any
moment he may be ordered to sea. But
he accepted on being informed that the
object the Government in appointing
him was TO secure his services at Bal
timore where two sloops of war and a
fiotilla were equipped; the expenditures
were heavy, as Commodore Barney had
! upward of a thousand men under his
command, but Mr.. Skinner performed
his arduous duties to the end of the
war, and for years afterwards to the
entire satisfaction of the Government
as wen as its accounting officers.
lie was frequently detailed to act as
judge advocate on court martial. and
won the warm friendship of the gallant
defenders of our flag in that hour OF
peril.
AT the approach of the British force
upon Washington Mr.. skinner rode 80
miles in the night and first told the
| Government of their march after hav-
| ing warned Commodore Barney pre.
ylously of their hostile intentions. BY
way of retaliation, the red coats burn
ed the valuable buildings on st. Leon
ards Greek, estate. for which he never
sought any reimbursement from the
| Government, although compensation
was granted for property destroyed on
a neighboring plantation at the same
i time and by the same forces.
"A few weeks later Mr.. Skinner went
4 So,,-, fl,n hn.- m, ~, official xses+ -, A \