Francis Scott Key (August 1, 1779 or 1780 - January 11, 1843) was an American lawyer and amateur poet. He is buried in Frederick, Maryland.
During the War of 1812, Key was detained on a British ship during the battle for Fort McHenry in Baltimore, Maryland harbor. Upon seeing the US flag still flying at dawn, he was inspired to write a poem celebrating the American victory. His poem was later set to music as The Star-Spangled Banner, and was adopted as the American national anthem in 1931.
Key was a collateral ancestor of F. Scott Fitzgerald.