"A view of the bombardment of Fort McHenry." (Drawing by J. Bower. Public domain) In 1814, Francis Scott Keys was inspired to write a poem, "Defence of Fort McHenry," after witnessing the bombardment by the British Royal Navy Ships in Chesapeake Bay during the War of 1812. Seeing the American flag still flying amidst the battle, he wrote:"O say can you see by the dawn's early light, What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming? Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight, O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming? And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there; O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave, O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?" Ironically, these words were set to the music of John Stafford Smith, an English composer.