Last modified: 2015-07-28 by rob raeside
Keywords: stripes: 11 | cross: couped (white) | cross: latin (white) |
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image by Dave Martucci, 21 April 1997
I have part of a Resolution of the Board of the American Colonization Society of 9 April 1827 (although there is no indication as to whom it is addressed), which states that:
As a flag is requested for our colony at Liberia, and as it is proper to make the flag as nearly like the Flag of the United States, being dependent thereon, yet sufficiently distinct to designate it as the Flag of the African Colony, resolved that the Flag of the United States be adopted, omitting the stars and substituting therefore a white cross in the center of the azure field.Christopher Southworth, 24 Mar 2005
image by António Martins, 31 Aug 2008
I read a book at my library written by an American
missionary who visited Liberia shortly after its declaration
of independence. He describes this flag, which bears a
Christian cross (bottom arm of double length).
Steve Kramer, 02 May 1996
Two contradictory accounts of an encounter with a British ship envolving
a Liberian ship hoisting the cross flag may refer to two different actual
events:
António Martins, 31 Aug 2008
I read a book at my library written by an American
missionary who visited Liberia shortly after its declaration
of independence — but it describes a British vessel as the first
to salute it. In fact, the first salute was refused by the Liberians
because it occurred on the Sabbath, so the whole scene was replayed
by the British captain on Monday. Flag salutes were a big deal in
those days; it was tantamount to recognition by a foreign nation.
Steve Kramer, 02 May 1996
One of Smith’s books describes the flag from
1827, based on US flag, but with a white cross
instead of the stars. The proclamation of independence arose out of an
incident in 1845 when the British captured a Liberian ship flying
that flag, considered illegal by the British.
Željko Heimer, 01 May 1996
Smith [smi80] says:
Liberia had had a flag since 1827. Understandably, the American flag constituted the basic design except that a white cross substituteed for the stars. In 1845 a Liberian ship flying that flag was seized by British authorities for lack of a recognized ensign; to give this flag international standing the decision was made to proclaim Liberian independence.The flag was altered by reducing the number of stripes to 11 and replacing the cross with a single white star 26 July 1847.
The original (1827) flag of Liberia had a
white cross on a blue canton. I presume this was changed to the
current single star when Liberia became
independent in 1845. Liberia may be the only country in the world
to have gained independence because of its national flag.
British warships operating against the slave trade in West Africa
didn’t recognize the Liberian flag and so in order to
legitimize it (the flag) the territory was declared independent.
Stuart A. Notholt, 20 Sep 1996
