author
John Henry Fow
1851–1915
A Philadelphia lawyer, legislator, and outspoken debunker of patriotic myths, he wrote a brisk, curious history of the American flag that still feels lively today. His work blends civic pride with a lawyer’s habit of checking the record.
1 Audiobook
The True Story of the American Flag
by John Henry Fow
About the author
Born in Philadelphia on June 23, 1851, John Henry Fow built a career as a lawyer and Democratic politician in Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania House Archives records that he served on Philadelphia city council and later represented Philadelphia County in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, while practicing law for many years.
Fow is best remembered by readers today for The True Story of the American Flag (1908). In that short historical work, he set out to trace the flag's origins through documents and evidence rather than legend, challenging familiar stories when he felt the record did not support them. That mix of patriotism and skepticism gives his writing much of its charm.
He died in 1915. Though not a household name now, Fow stands out as one of those energetic public figures whose writing grew directly from a life in law, politics, and argument.