Betsy
Ross
1752-1836
Elizabeth
Ross (nee Griscom) was
a Philadelphia seamstress who was credited with making the first stars
and stripes flag of the United States in 1777, now known as the Betsy
Ross flag.
The story of Betsy Ross designing the American flag first
appeared a century after the alleged event in 1870, when her grandson, William Canby,
spoke
at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania meeting. The validity of it
was immediately questioned by historians and is believed
to be a fable.
Most historians believe that Francis Hopkinson - judge, organist,
satirical songwriter, signer of the Declaration of Independence and
Head of the Navy Board - designed
the first Flag. He is the only person to have billed Congress for its
design, requesting a quarter cask of public wine. His request was later
rejected by Congress.
So once again, a man does the work and a woman gets the credit.
Note
on the illustration: I had always pictured Betsy Ross as an old lady until I did the math and realized she would have been 25 at the time.
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