Bald eagle adopted as insignia
- When
- June 19, 1783
- Where
- General Society of the Cincinnati
On June 19, 1783, the General Society adopted the bald eagle as its insignia, following Major Pierre L'Enfant's suggestion.
On June 19, 1783, the General Society of the Cincinnati adopted the bald eagle as its insignia, one of America's first post-revolution symbols. The suggestion came from Major Pierre L'Enfant, a French officer who joined the American Army in 1777 and served in the Corps of Engineers. L'Enfant observed that the bald eagle, unique to the continent and distinguished by its white head and tail, deserved attention, and in 1783 he was commissioned to travel to France to have the first eagle badges made from his design.
Sources
- Society of the Cincinnati Wikipedia, revision of 2026-08-10
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