Francis Hopkinson

Francis Hopkinson
A 1785 portrait of Hopkinson by Robert Edge Pine
Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Pennsylvania
In office
September 26, 1789 – May 9, 1791
Appointed byGeorge Washington
Preceded bySeat established by 1 Stat. 73
Succeeded byWilliam Lewis
Personal details
Born(1737-10-02)October 2, 1737
Philadelphia,
Province of Pennsylvania,
British America
DiedMay 9, 1791(1791-05-09) (aged 53)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Cause of deathsudden seizure
Resting placeChrist Church Burial Ground
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
ChildrenJoseph Hopkinson
Parent
RelativesJames Johnson
EducationUniversity of Pennsylvania (A.B., A.M.)
AwardsMagellanic Premium (1790)
Signature

Francis Hopkinson (October 2,[Note 1] 1737 – May 9, 1791) was an American Founding Father, lawyer, jurist, author, and composer.[1] He designed Continental paper money and two early versions of flags, one for the United States and one for the United States Navy.[2][3] He was a signer of the Declaration of Independence in July 1776 as a delegate from New Jersey.[1]

Hopkinson served in various roles in the early United States government including as a member of the Second Continental Congress and as a member of the Navy Board. He became the first federal judge of the Eastern District Court of Pennsylvania on September 30, 1789.[4]


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  1. ^ a b Bernstein, Richard B. (2009). "Appendix: The Founding Fathers, A Partial List". The Founding Fathers Reconsidered. New York: Oxford University Press. pp. 176–180. ISBN 978-0199832576.
  2. ^ Leepson, Marc; DeMille, Nelson (May 30, 2006). Flag: An American Biography. St. Martin's Griffin. p. 33. ISBN 978-0-312-32309-7.
  3. ^ Williams, Earl P. Jr. (October 2012). "Did Francis Hopkinson Design Two Flags?" (PDF). NAVA News (216): 7–9. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 6, 2016.
  4. ^ Hastings, George E. (1926). The Life and Works of Francis Hopkinson. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. p. 325.