Mary Young Pickersgill
Encyclopedia
Mary Young Pickersgill was the flagmaker of the Star Spangled Banner Flag
hoisted over Fort McHenry
during the Battle of Baltimore
in the War of 1812
.
, in 1776, she learned the flagmaking trade from her mother, Rebecca Young
, who made ensigns, garrison flags, and continental standards during and after American Revolution
. Her family first moved to Baltimore, Maryland, when she was a child. In 1795 she married John Pickersgill and moved back to Philadelphia until his death.
Pickersgill returned to Baltimore in 1807 with her widowed mother and young daughter, Caroline. In her home at 44 Queen Street (now 844 E. Pratt Street and home of the Star Spangled Banner Flag House and 1812 Museum), she established a flag-making business where she successfully supported her family by designing, sewing, and selling "silk standards, cavalry and division colours of every description," including signal and house flags for the U.S. Army
, U.S. Navy
, and merchant ships that frequented Baltimore’s harbor. By 1820 she was able to purchase the house she had been renting and lived there for the remainder of her life.
One hundred and fifty years before American
women entered the business world, Pickersgill was a successful businesswoman and philanthropist. She actively addressed social issues such as housing, job placement assistance, and financial aid for disadvantaged women—decades before these issues were prominent concerns in society. From 1828 until 1851 she was president of the Impartial Female Humane Society that helped impoverished families with school vouchers for children and employment for women. Under her presidency the society established a home for aged women in 1850. By 1869 there were forty-eight residents and, in 1863, a Men’s Home was added, with 27 residents. Today the Impartial Female Humane Society is known as the Pickersgill Retirement Community, located in Towson, Maryland
, a living testimony of Pickersgill’s humanitarian contributions to society.
While her business success and humanitarian contributions deserve acclaim, Pickersgill’s national contribution was making the 30x42 foot American flag
that flew over Fort McHenry during the 1814 Battle of Baltimore
on September 13 and 14. Pickersgill was paid $544.74 for her contribution. [The receipt of the payment can be seen at the Star Spangled Banner Flag House]. The United States
was at war with Great Britain
, and Baltimore was preparing for an eventual attack. Major George Armistead
, commander of the forces at Fort McHenry
, commissioned Pickersgill to sew a flag "so large that the British will have no difficulty seeing it from a distance." She was able to hand sew the flag in just six weeks with the help of her daughter, two nieces, and two African American servants. It contained over 400 yards (400 m) of fabric; there were fifteen stripes, so each stripe was two feet (60 cm) wide and each of the fifteen stars measured twenty-six inches across (60 cm) from tip to tip. The result was an enormous American flag that could be seen for several miles (kilometres) from the Fort. When the British attacked Baltimore, Francis Scott Key
saw Pickersgill’s flag while he was held captive on a British ship and was inspired to compose the poem that became the national anthem
of the United States. One of the most important artifacts at the Smithsonian, this flag is undergoing an $18 million restoration and will be the centerpiece of the redesigned National Museum of American History
.
Star Spangled Banner Flag
The Star-Spangled Banner Flag or the Great Garrison Flag was the garrison flag that flew over Fort McHenry in Baltimore Harbor during the naval portion of the Battle of Baltimore during the War of 1812...
hoisted over Fort McHenry
Fort McHenry
Fort McHenry, in Baltimore, Maryland, is a star-shaped fort best known for its role in the War of 1812, when it successfully defended Baltimore Harbor from an attack by the British navy in Chesapeake Bay...
during the Battle of Baltimore
Battle of Baltimore
The Battle of Baltimore was a combined sea/land battle fought between British and American forces in the War of 1812. It was one of the turning points of the war as American forces repulsed sea and land invasions of the busy port city of Baltimore, Maryland, and killed the commander of the invading...
in the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
.
Biography
Born Mary Young in Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
, in 1776, she learned the flagmaking trade from her mother, Rebecca Young
Rebecca Young
Rebecca Young was a flag maker during the American Revolution. Her name appears in the logs of the commissary general for making "Continental Standards" as early as 1781, making her one of the earlier verified makers of the Flag of the United States. In addition to flags, she was also paid for...
, who made ensigns, garrison flags, and continental standards during and after American Revolution
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
. Her family first moved to Baltimore, Maryland, when she was a child. In 1795 she married John Pickersgill and moved back to Philadelphia until his death.
Pickersgill returned to Baltimore in 1807 with her widowed mother and young daughter, Caroline. In her home at 44 Queen Street (now 844 E. Pratt Street and home of the Star Spangled Banner Flag House and 1812 Museum), she established a flag-making business where she successfully supported her family by designing, sewing, and selling "silk standards, cavalry and division colours of every description," including signal and house flags for the U.S. Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
, U.S. Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
, and merchant ships that frequented Baltimore’s harbor. By 1820 she was able to purchase the house she had been renting and lived there for the remainder of her life.
One hundred and fifty years before American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
women entered the business world, Pickersgill was a successful businesswoman and philanthropist. She actively addressed social issues such as housing, job placement assistance, and financial aid for disadvantaged women—decades before these issues were prominent concerns in society. From 1828 until 1851 she was president of the Impartial Female Humane Society that helped impoverished families with school vouchers for children and employment for women. Under her presidency the society established a home for aged women in 1850. By 1869 there were forty-eight residents and, in 1863, a Men’s Home was added, with 27 residents. Today the Impartial Female Humane Society is known as the Pickersgill Retirement Community, located in Towson, Maryland
Towson, Maryland
Towson is an unincorporated community and a census-designated place in Baltimore County, Maryland, United States. The population was 55,197 at the 2010 census...
, a living testimony of Pickersgill’s humanitarian contributions to society.
While her business success and humanitarian contributions deserve acclaim, Pickersgill’s national contribution was making the 30x42 foot American flag
Flag of the United States
The national flag of the United States of America consists of thirteen equal horizontal stripes of red alternating with white, with a blue rectangle in the canton bearing fifty small, white, five-pointed stars arranged in nine offset horizontal rows of six stars alternating with rows...
that flew over Fort McHenry during the 1814 Battle of Baltimore
Battle of Baltimore
The Battle of Baltimore was a combined sea/land battle fought between British and American forces in the War of 1812. It was one of the turning points of the war as American forces repulsed sea and land invasions of the busy port city of Baltimore, Maryland, and killed the commander of the invading...
on September 13 and 14. Pickersgill was paid $544.74 for her contribution. [The receipt of the payment can be seen at the Star Spangled Banner Flag House]. The United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
was at war with Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
, and Baltimore was preparing for an eventual attack. Major George Armistead
George Armistead
George Armistead was an American military officer who served as the commander of Fort McHenry during the Battle of Baltimore in the War of 1812.-Life and career:...
, commander of the forces at Fort McHenry
Fort McHenry
Fort McHenry, in Baltimore, Maryland, is a star-shaped fort best known for its role in the War of 1812, when it successfully defended Baltimore Harbor from an attack by the British navy in Chesapeake Bay...
, commissioned Pickersgill to sew a flag "so large that the British will have no difficulty seeing it from a distance." She was able to hand sew the flag in just six weeks with the help of her daughter, two nieces, and two African American servants. It contained over 400 yards (400 m) of fabric; there were fifteen stripes, so each stripe was two feet (60 cm) wide and each of the fifteen stars measured twenty-six inches across (60 cm) from tip to tip. The result was an enormous American flag that could be seen for several miles (kilometres) from the Fort. When the British attacked Baltimore, Francis Scott Key
Francis Scott Key
Francis Scott Key was an American lawyer, author, and amateur poet, from Georgetown, who wrote the lyrics to the United States' national anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner".-Life:...
saw Pickersgill’s flag while he was held captive on a British ship and was inspired to compose the poem that became the national anthem
The Star-Spangled Banner
"The Star-Spangled Banner" is the national anthem of the United States of America. The lyrics come from "Defence of Fort McHenry", a poem written in 1814 by the 35-year-old lawyer and amateur poet, Francis Scott Key, after witnessing the bombardment of Fort McHenry by the British Royal Navy ships...
of the United States. One of the most important artifacts at the Smithsonian, this flag is undergoing an $18 million restoration and will be the centerpiece of the redesigned National Museum of American History
National Museum of American History
The National Museum of American History: Kenneth E. Behring Center collects, preserves and displays the heritage of the United States in the areas of social, political, cultural, scientific and military history. Among the items on display are the original Star-Spangled Banner and Archie Bunker's...
.
See also
- Mary Pickersgill was the namesake of a World War IIWorld War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
Liberty shipLiberty shipLiberty ships were cargo ships built in the United States during World War II. Though British in conception, they were adapted by the U.S. as they were cheap and quick to build, and came to symbolize U.S. wartime industrial output. Based on vessels ordered by Britain to replace ships torpedoed by...
, the SS Mary Pickersgill, launched in 1944.