John Stafford Smith

John Stafford Smith ( born March 30, 1750 in Gloucester, † September 21, 1836 in London) was an English composer and musicologist.

Smith, the son of an organist of Gloucester, was himself organist and made especially as a music researcher a name. In 1812 he was a two-volume work, Musica antiqua out. He is the creator of the tune of the American national anthem, The Star- Spangled Banner, but there was this melody may (for Text To Anacreon in Heaven) in only one published by Smith collection.