Grand Union Flag

United Colonies

De facto flag of the United States until 1777
Other names	Continental Union Flag, Grand Union Flag, First Navy Ensign
Use	National flag and ensign
Adopted	December 3, 1775 (1775-12-03)
Relinquished	June 14, 1777 (1777-06-14)
Design	Thirteen horizontal stripes, alternating red and white, with the Union Flag in the canton

The flag of the United Colonies, often referred to as the Continental Union Flag, First Navy Ensign, and Grand Union Flag, was a horizontally striped red and white flag with a blue canton featuring a red cross on a white ground superimposed on a diagonal white cross. The flag was adopted in 1775 to replace the Union Flag for most official purposes, although the British Red Ensign had also been unofficially used since the 1700s. It served as the de facto flag of the United States until 1777, when the 13 star flag was adopted by the Continental Congress. The flag of the United Colonies made its first appearance on December 3, 1775, when it was hoisted at the commissioning of the Continental ship Alfred in Philadelphia.