Francis Bellamy

Francis Bellamy (1855–1931) was an American Baptist minister, writer, and Christian socialist best known for drafting the original 1892 Pledge of Allegiance to the United States flag. Born in Mount Morris, New York, he studied at the University of Rochester and Rochester Theological Seminary. Bellamy served as a pastor before turning to journalism and public education work. In 1892 he worked for *The Youth’s Companion*, where his pledge was published as part of a national school observance marking the 400th anniversary of Columbus’s voyage. The text was later revised, but Bellamy’s version helped popularize a civic ritual in American schools.