10. Francis Scott Key
Francis Scott Key, celebrated for penning “The Star-Spangled Banner,” also had a complicated relationship with slavery. Key was a slaveholder and, as a lawyer, represented both enslaved and free Black Americans in court, resulting in a mixed legacy. While he stood as a national symbol, his actions and beliefs reflect the era’s contradictions. Smithsonian Magazine explores the darker side of Key’s story and its connection to American history.
