Francis Scott Key was born to Ann Phoebe Penn Dagworthy (Charlton) and Captain John Ross Key at the family plantation Terra Rubra in what was then part of Frederick County, now Carroll County, Maryland [REF].
Key graduated from St.John's College, Annapolis, Maryland, and "read the law" under an uncle, Philip Barton Key who was (and his wife) Loyalists during the War of Independence.