Ralph Tomlinson | |
|---|---|
| Born | 17 August 1744 Cheshire, England |
| Died | 17 March 1778 (aged 33) |
| Occupation | Lyricist |
| Known for | Wrote the original lyrics to "The Anacreontic Song", whose melody was later adopted as the tune of the national anthem of the United States. |
Ralph Tomlinson (17 August 1744 – 17 March 1778), was a British lyricist best known for writing the original lyrics to "The Anacreontic Song". The music from the Anacreontic Song would be set as the music for The Star Spangled Banner, which would become the American national anthem in 1931. In 1776, he became the President of the Anacreontic Society, after the death of the previous President, George Bellas.[1][2]