The Little-Known Story Behind Our National Anthem
ITS AUTHOR WAS A LAWYER ON THE JOB
If you remember the name Francis Scott Key at all, you probably remember him as the poet whose piece “The Defense of Fort M’Henry” became “The Star-Spangled Banner.” As kids, most Americans learn about Key’s iconic moment writing the poem while standing on the deck of a ship during the War of 1812. There, with rockets exploding overhead, inspiration struck, and he scribbled a poem we still sing today. However, that vignette isn’t the whole story — far from it! Key wasn’t a patriotic poet by trade. In fact, he only got the chance to write “The Defense of Fort M’Henry” because of his career as a lawyer. He was onboard a British ship that day not to write or fight but to negotiate the release of a prisoner of war named Dr. William Beanes.
According to Smithsonian Magazine, British soldiers captured Beanes when he tried to protect his Maryland home. The War of 1812 was well underway, and the British had already burned down the White House in Washington, D.C., and set their sights on Baltimore. When they swept Beanes off to a ship named the Tonnant floating in the Chesapeake Bay, Key attempted a legal rescue. Armed with a letter revealing Beanes had once treated British soldiers, Key successfully boarded the Tonnant and negotiated the doctor’s release on Sept. 13 — but it was too late for escape. The British troops were heading for Baltimore, so they kept Key and Beanes on deck in temporary captivity until the battle was over.
The Tonnant was moored 8 miles from Maryland’s Fort McHenry, and its deck gave Key the perfect vantage point for poetic inspiration. According to Smithsonian, he said, “It seemed as though Mother Earth had opened and was vomiting shot and shell in a sheet of fire and brimstone.” The clash continued until dawn. Then, as Key watched, the sky lit up to reveal the American flag still flying over the fort. The lawyer quickly pulled a letter from his pocket and scribbled the words that would later become “The Star-Spangled Banner.” The British let Key and Beanes walk, and his poem became a national sensation — not bad for 24 hours of writing and lawyering!
REST, HEAL, AND LET US HANDLE IT INSTEAD It Only Took 2 Months to See Results!
My line of work isn’t easy, but it is endlessly rewarding. There are times when cases become more complicated with every passing moment. Every attorney will even experience a case that makes them lose sleep. Of course, when I can help someone receive the justice they deserve, the hard work is always worth it. However, sometimes, a client’s case goes by seamlessly. I recently experienced a case that went by so smoothly and successfully that I wondered if it were all a dream! Crystal came to our team after another firm’s handling of her case had her questioning her options. With a legal
team on your side, you should never have concerns about the future of your case. This should lie on your team’s shoulders doing the heavy lifting for you. After a car accident, Crystal deserved to rest and heal rather than worry about legal matters. I knew we could do better for her. Fortunately, we received incredible results for her in as little as two months! We filed a lawsuit and pushed the ball forward when others wouldn’t. Crystal won the compensation she deserved from her insurance company and now can finally move past this stressful time in her life. Hopefully, our team was able to make this time easier for her.
Sometimes, all a case needs is a dedicated team’s support for the process to move forward successfully. You might often hear about those long, drawn-out cases that take years to resolve. Well, that’s the last thing I want for our clients. My team and I will do whatever it takes to ensure our clients reach a favorable resolution as swiftly as possible. If you or someone you know is unsure whether a case is being handled properly, reach out to the Kevin Patrick Law team. We will review your case, the steps taken so far, and how we can better help you. Call (404) 566-5880 and earn yourself some peace of mind.
You can always reach Kevin directly at 404.566.8964 or Kevin@PatrickTrialLaw.com. (If you ever need it, his cellphone is 404.409.3160.)
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