Flag Day: 7 interesting facts about the American flag and its history

By Michael Gryboski, Editor
Sunday, June 14, 2026

2. The man behind the flag

Francis Hopkinson (1737-1791), a writer, musician, and signer of the Declaration of Independence generally believed among historians to have been the designer of the original American flag. | Public Domain

Francis Hopkinson, a writer, musician and signer of the Declaration of Independence, is generally considered by historians to be the real person behind the creation of the American flag.

A native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Hopkinson represented New Jersey at the Continental Congress, with journals from the deliberations indicating that he worked on the flag design.

“Hopkinson was appointed to the Continental Navy Board in 1776, and there is written evidence suggesting he used this time to work on the American flag’s design,” noted Biography.com.

“Hopkinson’s gravestone in center city Philadelphia, which outlines many of his accomplishments, also includes the phrase ‘designer of the American flag.’”

Historian Marc Leepson told The Associated Press in 2017 that the likely reason Betsy Ross generally gets credit for the flag and not Hopkinson is political in nature.

“At that time, the suffragette movement was starting, and there was a need for female heroes,” Leepson said. “It was when the Pledge of Allegiance was created and Flag Day began.”