Historedia
Person

Francis Hopkinson

Events
2
Episodes
10
Years
1775–1782

Every event in Historedia whose sources name Francis Hopkinson, with the role they cite and all of that event’s episodes. This is not a biography, and mentions are grouped by name, so two people with the same name can share this page.

Events and episodes

  1. Adoption of the Stars and Stripes Flag

    1775–1779

    Role: Naval flag designer and Declaration signer credited with designing a flag in 1777 while chairman of the Continental Navy Board's Middle Department, though Preble's 1882 text states no one knows who designed the 1777 flag

    1. December 3, 1775 – June 14, 1777 · Continental Navy and Army usageThe Continental Union Flag Precedent

      Before the 1777 resolution, the Continental Union Flag served as the national flag from 1775 to 1777.

    2. 1777–1779 · Army and Navy usageContinued Variety of Flags After 1777

      Despite the resolution, many hand-crafted flags flew in the early independence years, with no settled standard as late as 1779.

    3. June – September 11, 1777 · Middlebrook encampment, Fort Schuyler, and BrandywineEarly Flights and Battle Use

      Tradition holds the new flag first flew at Middlebrook in June 1777; its first battle flight came at Fort Schuyler on August 3, 1777.

    4. June 14, 1777 · Seat of the Continental CongressAdoption of the Flag Resolution

      The Continental Congress passed the Flag Resolution on June 14, 1777, defining the flag of the thirteen United States.

  2. Adoption of the Great Seal of the United States

    1776–1782

    Role: Designer of the US flag whose stripe arrangement was incorporated into the seal

    1. July 4, 1776 · Continental CongressFirst Committee Named

      Congress named the first committee to design a Great Seal on July 4, 1776, the day independence was declared.

    2. March 25 – May 10, 1780 · Continental CongressSecond Committee Reports

      A second committee formed March 25, 1780, reported a design to Congress on May 10, 1780.

    3. May 4–9, 1782 · Continental CongressThird Committee and Barton Design

      Congress formed a third committee on May 4, 1782; William Barton's design was submitted five days later.

    4. June 13, 1782 · Continental CongressThomson Prepares Final Design

      On June 13, 1782, Congress turned to Secretary Charles Thomson with all material from the three committees.

    5. June 20, 1782 · Continental CongressAdoption of the Great Seal

      The design was submitted to Congress on June 20, 1782, and accepted the same day, depicting a bald eagle with thirteen arrows and an olive branch.

    6. September 16, 1782 · United States federal governmentFirst Use of the Seal

      Charles Thomson first used the seal on September 16, 1782, to verify signatures authorizing a prisoner exchange negotiation.

Sources

  1. Flag of the United States Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-19
  2. Great Seal of the United States Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-27