Battle of Baltimore Navy inspired Francis Scott Key to compose the poem "Defence of Fort McHenry", which later became the lyrics for "The Star-Spangled Banner", the national anthem of the United States of America. Future President James Buchanan served as Private in the defense of Baltimore. Until April 1814, Great Britain was at war with Napoleonic France, which limited British war aims in America. During this time the British primarily used a defensive strategy and repelled American invasions of the provinces of Upper and Lower Canada. However, the Americans gained naval control over Lake Erie in 1813, and seized parts of western Ontario.
Mergenthaler Vocational-Technical High School The official Mergenthaler Vo-Tech uniform shirts for 9th graders is a gold shirt with a blue cogwheel. The Mergenthaler School song was penned by the president of the senior class of 1955. The Song is performed by the Mergenthaler Mass Choir before each school assembly. Following the playing and singing of the national anthem of the United States with the "Star-Spangled Banner" - composed in Baltimore by Francis Scott Key during the British attack on Fort McHenry in the Battle of Baltimore, September 12-13-14th, 1814, during the War of 1812. The lyrics of the M.V.-T.H.S. school song are as follows: