Francis Hopkinson

This image of Francis Hopkinson appeared in The Literary History of Philadephia, 1906 by Ellis Paxson Oberholtzer.

Francis Hopkinson (September 21, 1737 – May 9, 1791) was an author and composer. He designed the first official American flag, Continental paper money, and the first United States coin. He was also one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence in July 1776, as a delegate from New Jersey. He 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 also later served as a United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Pennsylvania after the ratification of the United States Constitution. -- Wikipedia

David Eggenberger described Francis Hopkinson's claim to be the designer of the American Flag in his book Flags of the U.S.A.

Hopkinson was the author of the popular song The Battle of the Kegs sung to the tune of Yankee Doodle and his song My Days Have Been So Wondrous Free, lyric by Thomas Parnell, is said to be “the first secular song in the European tradition known to have been composed in America.” (See Language Log February 6, 2012).