John Stafford Smith

John Stafford Smith

Who would have guessed that a local boy wrote the American National Anthem!

To be precise - he wrote the tune that later had the words "The Star Spangled Banner" set to it by the American Francis Scott Key.

Oh! say, can you see,by the dawns early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last Gleamings
Whose broad Stripes and bright Stars,thro' 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 thro' the night that our flag was still there.
Oh! say, does the star spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Stafford_Smith