The Francis Scott Key Star Spangled Banner Limited Edition
The LeBoeuf Pen Company is proud to release the Francis Scott Key “Star Spangled Banner” Limited Edition, which pays homage to this Iconic American figure who wrote America's National Anthem.
Francis Scott Key was born on August 1, 1779, in western Maryland on a family estate. He attended grammar school in Annapolis and continued to study law while apprenticing with an uncle's law firm. By 1805, he had a well-established law practice in Georgetown, a suburb of Washington, D.C., and was appointed the United States District Attorney in 1833.
The law was only one of Key’s interests. He was a deeply religious man, and at one time in his life considered giving up his law practice to enter the ministry of the Episcopal Church. Because of his religious beliefs, Key strongly opposed the decision to go to war in 1812. But deep love for his country overrode this, and he served. for a brief time, in 1813 in Captain George Peter's Georgetown Light Field Artillery.
Key’s greatest service to the war effort would come in 1814. Prominent Washington physician Dr. William Beanes was taken prisoner by the British following the capture of Washington on August 24, and Key was asked to secure his release. Key made his way to Baltimore, and on September 5, 1814, sailed in a small flag-of-truce vessel out of the port of Baltimore with Colonel John Skinner to negotiate a prisoner exchange with the Royal Navy.
The British officers aboard the flagship HMS Tonnant were kind to Key and Skinner, and agreed to release Dr. Beanes. However, as the negotiations had been taking place, the Battle of Baltimore had begun. The three Americans were kept in the harbor and from a distance of approximately eight miles, watched the bombardment of Fort McHenry.
What happened next became a legend. After 25 hours of continuous bombing, the British abandoned their attack and retreated. Key scanned the sky in the morning following a night of attacks for clues as to what had happened. To his surprise and relief, the American flag was still flying! Overjoyed and inspired by patriotism, he quickly penned the words to a poem called “The Defense of Fort McHenry.” The first stanza of this poem is well-known to Americans as the lyrics to the national anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
The Francis Scott Key “Star–Spangled Banner” Limited Edition is produced with a unique Vintage Ivory acrylic. Each pen barrel has been carefully polished and features Red and Blue acrylic end caps. Francis Scott Key’s famous signature is engraved on each barrel. A gold commutative coin featuring Francis Scott Key’s Portrait has been fitted onto the top of each cap. Red and Blue alternating Stars have been engraved onto each cap paying homage to The Star-Spangled Banner and enhancing the elegance of this special pen.
Each Francis Scott Key Limited Edition Pen features a German gold plated nib featuring the LeBoeuf logo in both Fine and Medium Points and utilizes a cartridge/Convertor filling system. A Roller Ball version is also available which uses a Standard International Roller Ball refill. Each pen model is limited to 180 pens Worldwide.
The Francis Scott Key “Star-Spangled Banner” Limited Edition celebrates this historic figure and his role in creating America’s National Anthem, The Star-Spangled Banner.
