It was September, 1814. Dr. William Beanes was held captive on the British ship Tonnant, accused of unfriendly acts toward British soldiers. People in nearby Georgetown were frantic. They were sure the British would hang the old man. The townspeople needed a lawyer to negotiate with the British. They called on a respected local lawyer with a thriving law practice: Francis Scott Key.
At the time, Key had successfully argued several cases before the United States Supreme Court. He was a good lawyer who knew when he needed expert help. Recognizing he needed help to negotiate with the British, Key asked a well-known negotiator, Col. John Skinner, to work with him. They went to Baltimore to plead for old Doc Beanes.
As it happened, Francis Scott Key couldn’t have picked a worse time to negotiate the doctor’s freedom. The British military were planning their attack on Baltimore. Once aboard ship, Key and his colleague overheard too many details about the impending attack on Baltimore and the fort that guarded its harbor: Ft. McHenry. Even though Dr. Beanes had been released, all three men were detained aboard a British ship. The British military could not risk intelligence leaks.