March 13: Today in History

Uncle Sam, the personified symbol of the U.S. government, originated from the War of 1812.

Sam Wilson was a 19th-century meat packer in New York who stamped ‘U.S.’ on all his deliveries to soldiers. During the War of 1812, soldiers labeled the meat supplies as gifts from ‘Uncle Sam,’ and the nickname was cemented.

His cartoon rendition with the tall hat, the striped trousers, and pointed finger did not emerge until late in 1852.

Before Uncle Sam, other figures represented young America. Characters like Yankee Doodle and Brother Jonathan were the monikers of the United States.

Uncle Sam Cartoon

The “Raising the Wind” political cartoon, illustrated by Frank Bellew, created the visual representation of Uncle Sam. The cartoon was about rival shipping lines, featuring John Bull, England personified, versus Uncle Sam, hands in the pockets of his striped trousers. Each character represented the dispute between the two forgotten merchants.

The cartoon was published on March 13, 1852, without the whiskers. Facial hair appeared after the end of the Civil War in 1865, likely inspired by Abraham Lincoln. The look of Uncle Sam was solidified for several generations before he appeared on a World War I recruiting poster, declaring, “I want you for U.S. Army.”

Between 1917 and 1918, the “I Want YOU” poster had four million copies.

Over time, “Uncle Sam’ became a symbol became a symbol for taxes and government regulations, and a powerful figure in popular culture through military recruitment and propaganda.

In 1961, Congress recognized Wilson as the inspiration for ‘Uncle Sam,’ solidifying a lasting place in American history. Although Britannica says the name appears in print before the War of 1812.

Also on March 13

In 1781, William Herschel discovered Uranus.

In 1942, the U.S. Army formed K-9 Corps.

In 1913, Hindustani classical violinist Gangubai Hangail was born.

Hip-Hop artist Common was born in 1972 on March 13.

American tennis player Coco Gauff was born on this day in 2004.

Sources:

Investopedia: Uncle Sam: Iconic Symbol of the U.S. Government Explained
Britannica: Today in History – March 13: Uncle Sam’s Debut in an American Cartoon

Featured Image Courtesy of Leo Reynolds’ Flickr Page – Creative Commons License