Francis Scott Key wrote the poem that became the lyrics to The Star-Spangled Banner, which was later set to the tune of a British song composed by John Stafford Smith. The anthem’s lyrics were published in 1814 as "Defence of Fort M'Henry" and were later paired with Smith's melody, with the combined work commonly known as The Star-Spangled Banner. Official adoption as the U.S. national anthem occurred much later, in 1931.