Serapis Flag Patch

The Serapis flag, also known as the Franklin Flag or John Paul Jones Flag, was an unofficial American flag used during the Revolutionary War, notable for its unique design and role in a diplomatic incident. It featured 13 alternating red, white, and blue stripes, and a blue canton with 13 eight-pointed stars. The flag gained prominence after Captain John Paul Jones, after capturing the British ship HMS Serapis, sailed it into a Dutch port, where the British ambassador accused him of piracy for flying an unknown flag. The Dutch, however, quickly sketched the flag and recorded it as an official American ensign, resolving the situation.