UNCLE SAM NICKNAME
SEPTEMBER 7, 1813
This day, September 7,
1813, the United States got a nickname, Uncle Sam,
Sam Wilson, a meat
merchant of Troy, New York , age 47, who supplied beef in barrels
to the United States Army during the War of 1812, had the barrels
of beef stamped “U. S.” for shipment were referred to by
soldiers as Uncle Sams grub. The local newspaper picked up on the
story and “Uncle Sam” eventually gained widespread acceptance
as a 'nickname' for the United States federal
government.
A political cartoonist,
Thomas Nast, in the late 1860's popularized the image of 'Uncle Sam'
,
giving his the white beard
and the stars and stripes suit now associated with the character.
Nast, German born, also was
credited with creating the image of Santa Claus, the Domocratic
Donkey, the Republican
Elephant.
Probably the most famous
image of Uncle Sam was created by artist James Montgomery Flagg
which verision Uncle Sam is
in a tall top hat and blue jacket, pointing his finger straight ahead
at the viewer, no matter where the viewer is standing.
September of 1961, The U.
S. Congress, recognized Sam Wilson of Troy, as the progenitor
of America's national symbol
of Uncle Sam. Dam wilson died in 1854 at 88 years and is buried by
his
wife, Betsey Mann, in
Oakwood Cemetery, Troy New York , which calls itself “ The Home of
Uncle Sam”
Source:
history.com/this day in history.
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