Betsy Ross
1752 – 1836

Betsy Ross

American upholsterer who was credited by her relatives with making the first American flag

seamstressupholstererdesigner
Born
1752-01-01, Philadelphia
Died
1836-01-30
Birthplace state
Pennsylvania

Biography

Elizabeth Griscom Ross, known also as Ashburn and Claypoole by her second and third marriages, was born in Philadelphia in 1752 and worked as a seamstress, upholsterer, and designer. Her relatives claimed in 1870 that she had designed and made the first U.S. flag, a story they attributed to a 1776 visit from George Washington and members of a congressional committee. No archival evidence or recorded accounts from earlier periods support this account, which first appeared in writings by her grandson during the 1870s. The story was later depicted in a large oil painting displayed at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair, after which it entered wider circulation. Ross died in Philadelphia in 1836.

Occupation

Betsy Ross is recorded as a seamstress, a upholsterer and a designer, born in Pennsylvania (1752–1836).

Connections to Pennsylvania

Betsy Ross was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1752. Explore other notable figures from Pennsylvania, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.

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Frequently asked about Betsy Ross

Who was Betsy Ross?
Betsy Ross was American upholsterer who was credited by her relatives with making the first American flag, born in Pennsylvania (1752 – 1836).
When and where was Betsy Ross born?
Betsy Ross was born on 1752-01-01 in Philadelphia.
When did Betsy Ross die?
Betsy died on 1836-01-30.
What was Betsy Ross known for?
Betsy Ross is recorded as a seamstress, a upholsterer and a designer.
Source

Biographical content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source: Wikipedia.

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