Smith, John Stafford (1750–1836)

English music scholar and composer. He was one of the first people to undertake the study of early music, and in 1812 published his Musica Antiqua, which includes pieces from the 12th century onwards. The tune of his song ‘Anacreon in Heaven’ was later adopted as the US national anthem, ‘The Star-spangled Banner’.

He studied under his father, Martin Smith, who was organist at Gloucester Cathedral. Later he went to London, where he was a chorister in the Chapel Royal and studied under William Boyce and James Nares. He became a Gentleman of the Chapel Royal in 1784, organist of Gloucester Cathedral in 1790, and in 1802 succeeded Arnold as organist of the Chapel Royal. He succeeded Ayrton as Master of the Children in 1805. He assisted Hawkins in his History of Music.

Works Songs anthems, glees, catches, canons, madrigals, part songs; songs including ‘Anacreon in Heaven’ (now ‘The Star-spangled Banner’).