Fitzgerald was born in St. Paul, Minnesota. He was named after Francis Scott Key, who wrote the “Star-Spangled Banner.” His family was not very wealthy, and his father had lost several jobs throughout his childhood. Fitzgerald was an intelligent child, being only 13 years old and attending the St. Paul Academy. At the age of 15, he was sent to a Catholic preparatory school, the Newman School, where many noticed his talent in writing. Fitzgerald decided to continue his education at Princeton University. His first work was called The Romantic Egotist, which was rejected and never published. Fitzgerald joined the infantry and later met Zelda Sayre, who he would marry. He was never deployed, because the war had ended. After the completion of The
