Dr. Beanes And The Star-Spangled Banner

 Francis Scott Key, an attorney, was positioned to see "that our flag was still there" because he was on a mission to free Dr. William Beanes. Levin Winder addressed the letter below, dated August 31, 1814, requesting the Dr. Beanes' release to the British General, Robert Ross.
 
 From The British invasion of Maryland, (1812-1815:

Dr. Beanes was born in 1749 and died in 1828.