John Stafford Smith | |
|---|---|
 Portrait of Smith after William Behnes, 1822 | |
| Born | Gloucester, England |
| Baptized | 30 March 1750 |
| Died | 21 September 1836 (aged 86) London, England |
| Occupations |
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| Known for | Composed "The Anacreontic Song", later adopted as the tune of the national anthem of the United States |
John Stafford Smith (bapt. 30 March 1750 – 21 September 1836) was a British composer, church organist, and early musicologist. He was one of the first serious collectors of manuscripts of works by Johann Sebastian Bach and a friend of his son Johann Christian Bach.
Smith is best known for writing the music for "The Anacreontic Song", which became the tune for the American patriotic song "The Star-Spangled Banner" following the War of 1812, and in 1931 was adopted as the national anthem of the United States.