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Francis Bellamy was born in 1855 in Mount Morris. He grew up in Rome and graduated from Rome Free Academy in 1872. After graduation from the University of Rochester and ordination as a minister, Bellamy went to work for “Youth’s Companion” magazine, where he wrote the Pledge of Allegiance.

Bellamy and his boss James Bailey Upham, wanted to salute the flag in commemoration of the 400th anniversary of Columbus’ landing in America. The pledge was printed for the first time on Sept. 8, 1892.

Authorship of the pledge was in dispute for many years. The families of both Upham and Bellamy brought out evidence that their family member wrote the pledge.

In 1939, The United States Flag Association and American Flag Committee officially recognized Bellamy as the pledge’s author.

Congress officially recognized the pledge in 1942. Bellamy’s pledge has been embellished over the years. The last change came in 1954 as America grew worried about godless communism and added “under God” to follow “one nation.”

Bellamy, who died in 1931, is buried in Rome Cemetery.

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