Grand Union Flag

Continental Union Flag

De facto flag of the United States until 1777
Other names	first American flag, Cambridge Flag, and Grand Union Flag
Use	National flag and ensign
Adopted	December 3, 1775 (248 years ago) (1775-12-03)
Relinquished	June 14, 1777 (1777-06-14)
Design	A Union Flag, with thirteen horizontal stripes, alternating red and white, in the field.

The Continental Union Flag (often referred to as the first American flag, Cambridge Flag, and Grand Union Flag) was the flag of the United Colonies from 1775 to 1776; and the de facto flag of the United States until 1777, when the 13 star flag was adopted by the Continental Congress.

The Continental Union Flag was so called because it combined the Union Flag (denoting the kingdoms of England and Scotland) with thirteen stripes (representing the United Colonies).

The canton consists of the cross of St. George (red cross on a white ground) and the cross of St. Andrew (diagonal white cross on a blue ground); the field of thirteen horizontal stripes (alternate red and white).

The Continental Union Flag made its first appearance on December 3, 1775, when it was hoisted at the commissioning of Admiral Esek Hopkins' flagship on the western shore of the Delaware River at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.