Who is recognized as the designer of the first official United States flag?

Francis Hopkinson is recognized as the designer of the first official United States flag. He was a New Jersey delegate to the Continental Congress and served on the Continental Navy Board when Congress adopted the flag resolution in 1777.

The Second Continental Congress approved the first official national flag on June 14, 1777. The resolution specified thirteen alternating red and white stripes and a blue field containing thirteen white stars, representing the thirteen states.

Hopkinson later claimed credit for designing the United States flag and several other patriotic devices. Congress’s records support his role, although no surviving sketch definitively proves the exact appearance of his original design. The well-known Betsy Ross story became popular much later and lacks contemporary documentary evidence.

The modern flag has changed as new states joined the Union. Congress added stars for new states while retaining thirteen stripes for the original colonies. Flag Day commemorates the 1777 resolution each June 14.