fort mchenry

fort mchenry

Fort McHenry

Fort McHenry was an American military installation built on a peninsula in Baltimore harbor in 1799. During the War of 1812 it was attack, September 13- 14, 1814 by a British fleet, an attack that inspired Francis Scott Key, a prisoner aboard a British ship, to write the "Star- Spangled Banner". Later, Fort McHenry was used as a storage depot and military prison, Fort McHenry was established as a national park in 1925. It was re-designated a national monument and historic shrine in 1939.

Fort McHenry, formerly known U.S. military post on Whetstone Point, Patapsco River, MD. It was first occupied for military purposes in 1775, and later established as a permanent Federal fortification in 1794.

In 1798, Jean Foncin, a French engineer, was asked to build this fort. In 1799, construction began. In 1805, the completion of the fort was done.

The fort was named after James McHenry, 1753- 1816. An American army officer, born in Ballymena, Ireland. After serving on medical staff of Revolutionary forces, 1775- 1778, he became secretary to General George Washington, 1778- 1780 and to Lafayette, 1780- 1781. He was a member of the Maryland senate for two terms, first term, 1781- 1786 and second term, 1791-1796. He also served in the Continental Congress, 1783-1786. He also served in the Constitutional Convention, 1787. Lastly, he served as secretary of war under Washington and Adams, 1796- 1800.

Ft. McHenry became popular during the War of 1812 when, it was under attack by the British fleet under the command under Admiral Cockburn in 1814. During the night of September 13, Francis Scott Key, an American patriot, 35 years old poet- lawyer, held aboard a British vessel during the attack of the fort, kept a constant eye out to see if the American flag was still flying above Ft. McHenry. When the fort successfully withstood the attack, Key was inspired to write a song called "Star- Spangled Banner" which later became the United States national...