Francis Scott Key wrote the words of the poem Star Spangled Banner during the War of 1812. He then set it to the tune of a popular drinking song. It was made into the U.S. national anthem in 1931 by… Read More
According to some accounts, in 1814, Luigia Verdi grabbed her baby and hid in the tower of the town’s church. Soldiers killed everyone in the church except for them. Her baby, Giuseppe, grew up to compose operas.
source: Kathleen Krull, Lives of the Musicians, p 37