Ross, Betsy (1752–1836)

Betsy Ross sewing the US flag with her assistants in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in a painting from 1877. According to tradition, Betsy Ross was visited in June 1776 by George Washington and asked to make a flag for the new nation that would declare its independence the following month. But there is no firm evidence in support of this popular story, although it is known that Betsy Ross made flags for the navy of Pennsylvania. The Continental Congress adopted the ‘Stars and Stripes’ as the national flag of the United States on 14 June 1777.

American entrepreneur said to have made the first US flag. According to popular legend, she was approached 1776 by family acquaintance George Washington to create an official flag for the new nation. Despite little historical substantiation, it is believed by many that the familiar red and white stripes with white stars on a field of blue was Ross's original concept.

She was born in Philadelphia and married upholsterer John Ross 1773. When he died 1776, she took over his business. Becoming famous after the war, she continued in the upholstery business until her retirement 1827.