Betsy Ross
An upholsterer whose family's claim placed her at the heart of America's founding myth, sewing a symbol that would outlast the debate over its origins.
1752–1836 (age 84)·American upholsterer·Birthday: January 1
Biography
Betsy Ross was a Philadelphia artisan operating in a world of men, a skilled upholsterer and flag-maker who ran her own business through multiple marriages and wars. Decades after the Revolution, her grandson ignited a national story by claiming that in 1776, a committee including George Washington visited her shop and commissioned the first Stars and Stripes. According to the family lore, Ross suggested practical five-pointed stars instead of six-pointed ones, and deftly demonstrated how to cut them with a single snip of her scissors. While historians find scant contemporary evidence to verify the tale, its power proved undeniable. The image of a humble craftswoman creating the nation's emblem captured the public imagination, transforming Ross from a historical figure into a patriotic icon. Her real life—one of resilience, craft, and business acumen in a burgeoning nation—became intertwined with a legend that cemented the flag's place in American folklore.
#1 When Betsy Was Born
The biggest hits of 1752
Betsy's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1752Born
1757Started school
1765Became a teenager
1768Could drive
1770Could vote
1773Turned 21
1782Turned 30
1792Turned 40
1802Turned 50
1812Turned 60
1822Turned 70
1832Turned 80
1836Died at 84
Key Achievements
- She was a successful businesswoman and upholsterer in post-colonial Philadelphia, taking over her first husband's shop after his death.
- Her family's 1870 account established the enduring popular narrative of the creation of the first American flag.
- She produced flags, tents, and uniforms for the Pennsylvania Navy during the American Revolution.
Did You Know?
She was born Elizabeth Griscom and was expelled from her Quaker congregation for marrying outside the faith.
She was married three times, outliving all of her husbands.
Her Philadelphia home on Arch Street is a popular, though historically reconstructed, tourist attraction.
“A new nation needs a flag, and I know how to sew one.”
