Baltimore, Battle of, Baltimore, Md., 1814

The Battle of Baltimore took place between British and American forces on September 12–14, 1814, during the War of 1812. Defending American forces repulsed sea and land invasions off the busy major port city of Baltimore, Maryland, by British forces preventing the United States' third largest city at the time from falling to British forces and ending the British Chesapeake campaign. The British and Americans first met at the Battle of North Point. Though the Americans were tactically defeated and forced to retreat, the battle was a successful delaying action that inflicted significant casualties on the British including the commanding general Robert Ross, halted their advance, and allowed the defenders at Baltimore to prepare for an attack. The resistance of Baltimore's Fort McHenry during bombardment by the Royal Navy inspired Francis Scott Key to compose the poem "Defence of Fort M'Henry", which later became the lyrics for "The Star-Spangled Banner," the national anthem of the United States. Future U.S. president James Buchanan served as a private in the defense of Baltimore.