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Aug. 24 British forces capture Washington DC and set fire to many public buildings including the White House and Capitol. Aug. 29 Published as a broadside in Saint John, NB, by “a Loyal A New Song on Peace and Conquered Bonaparte British Hero” reported on the war: 4 The Fife and Drum
Sept. 20 Francis Scott Key, a lawyer, published the “StarSpangled Banner” after witnessing the bombardment of Fort McHenry at Baltimore by the British. His words were set to an old British drinking song, “To Anacreon in Heaven.” It was not adopted formally as the American national anthem until 1931.
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