George Armistead
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George Armistead (April 10, 1780 - April 25, 1818) born in Newmarket, Caroline County, Virginia is noted for being the Commander of Fort McHenry during the Battle of Baltimore.
George Armistead was one of five brothers who served in the War of 1812, either in the regular army or militia. He distinguished himself at the capture of Fort George from the British, near the mouth of Niagara River in Canada on May 27, 1813 while serving as an artillery officer at Fort Niagara. He would later carry the captured British flags to President Madison. Upon his arrival in Washington, Armistead was ordered to "take command of Fort McHenry."
When he arrived at Fort McHenry, located in the outer harbor of Baltimore, Maryland, Armistead ordered "a flag so large that the British would have no difficulty seeing it from a distance..." That flag, known as the Star Spangled Banner, measured 42' x 30', and was sewn by Baltimore resident Mary Pickersgill and would be later memorialized by Francis Scott Key in the song The Star Spangled Banner.
Following his successful defense of Fort McHenry and Baltimore, Armistead received a promotion to brevet lieutenant colonel from President Madison, effective September 12, 1814.
Armistead died on April 25, 1818, from pneumonia while still in command of Fort McHenry and is buried in Old Saint Paul's Cemetery in downtown Baltimore, next to his nephew Confederate Brigadier General Lewis A. Armistead.
