Flags That Have Flown Over Georgia: The History of the Georgia State Flag

Great Britain's Union Flag, 1606-1801

Although the British flag underwent a number of changes in the 17th century, the St. George's Cross continued as the official national flag. For seagoing ships, however, the official banner was the Union flag (better known as the Union Jack), which combined England St. George's Cross with Scotland's St. Andrew's Cross (a white saltire on blue). In 1707, the Union flag became Britain's national land flag. As of that date, all of present-day Georgia was included within the area claimed by the second Carolina charter (1665), so the Union flag would have been the official flag of what would one day become Georgia.

In 1721, Britain authorized construction of Fort King George at the mouth of the Altamaha River. Although the post was abandoned in 1727, the Union flag probably flew at the fort.

The current national flag of Great Britain did not come into existence until 1801, so throughout Georgia's existence as a colony, the official land flag would have been the 1707 flag.