[1] The first recorded use of this flag (typically with a white star) was in 1810 when it was used to represent the Republic of West Florida, a republic of English-speaking inhabitants in parts of Louisiana east of the Mississippi River who rebelled against the reign of Spanish government and overthrew Spain's district governor, Carlos de Hault de Lassus, at Baton Rouge.

This version consisted of an azure background with a large golden star, inspired by the 1810 flag of the Republic of West Florida.

When the state of Mississippi seceded from the Union in January 1861, a flag bearing a single white star on a blue field was flown from the capitol dome.

[4] Although the name "Bonnie Blue" dates only from 1861, there is no doubt that the flag is identical with the banner of the Republic of West Florida.

It was flying above the Confederate batteries that first opened fire on Fort Sumter, beginning the Civil War.