The song was written for the Anacreontic Society, probably around 1771. The tune is now thought to have been written “collectively” by members of the society, led by John Stafford Smith (…). The society met every two weeks to get drunk, sing songs and to indulge in some debauchery. Anacreon himself was a Greek poet from about 570BC who was noted for his erotic poetry and his drinking songs. The melody was attached to a poem written 1n 1814 “The Defense of Fort McHenry, that became known as The Star Spangled Banner. On March 3,1931 The Star Spangled Banner became the National Anthem of The United States.