1814: Key pens Star-Spangled Banner

[Sep 13]( THIS DAY IN HISTORY 1814 [Key pens Star-Spangled Banner]( On this day in 1814, Francis Scott Key pens a poem which is later set to music and in 1931 becomes America's national anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner." The poem, originally titled "The Defence of Fort McHenry," was written after Key witnessed the Maryland fort being bombarded by the British during... [read more »]( American Revolution 1806 [American sympathizer Charles James Fox dies in Britain »]( Automotive 2004 [Oprah gives away nearly 300 new cars »]( Civil War 1862 [Union troops discover Rebels' Antietam battle plan »]( Cold War 1976 [New book says war with Russia is greatest U.S. threat »]( Crime 1971 [Attica prison riot ends »]( Disaster 1989 [Devastating storm heads toward Caribbean »]( General Interest 1759 [Britain victorious on the Plains of Abraham »]( 1971 [Massacre at Attica Prison »]( 1993 [Israel-Palestine peace accord signed »]( 1998 [George Wallace dies »]( Hollywood 1990 [Law & Order debuts »]( Literary 1916 [Children's author Roald Dahl is born »]( Music 1996 [Tupac Shakur dies »]( Old West 1847 [General Winfield Scott storms the Chapultepec fortress »]( Presidential 1980 [President Carter attends Willie Nelson concert at White House »]( Sports 1936 [Bob Feller strikes out 17 at 17 »]( Vietnam War 1945 [British troops arrive to disarm the Japanese »]( 1964 [Attempted coup against Khanh government fails »]( 1968 [Large operation begins in the DMZ »]( World War I 1914 [Irish nationalist seeks German support »]( World War II 1940 [Italy invades Egypt »]( [HISTORY.com]( [SHOWS]( [VIDEOS]( [SCHEDULE]( [TOPICS]( [Subscribe]( | [Update Profile]( | [Contact Us](mailto:thc.newsletters@aetn.com) This is a promotional email from HISTORY and A+E Networks. You received this message because {EMAIL} is subscribed to This Day In History email updates. If you DO NOT wish to receive these emails please [UNSUBSCRIBE](. Having trouble viewing this message? [View the web version](. To ensure delivery to your inbox (not junk folders) and view images, [please add us to your address book or safe/white list](. © 2017 A&E Television Networks, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Email Marketing, 235 E 45th Street, New York, NY 10017 [Corporate Information]( | [TV Parental Guidelines]( | [Careers]( | [Terms of Use]( | [Privacy Policy]( | [Copyright Policy]( | [Ad Sales]( | [Ad Choices](