Who is “Uncle Sam” and how did he appear? The story of the butcher who became a symbol of evil

The United States has long been associated with the image of "Uncle Sam", with the features of a tough, comic figure dressed in striped clothing with the national flag. The first cartoon of "Uncle Sam" appeared on March 13, 1852.

Uncle Sam, the image that became a stereotype for the United States, became popular in its early stages between 1860 and 1870 after it was drawn by Thomas Nast, the American artist who was the first to present the image of an elephant as a symbol of the Republican Party, and he was also the one who made the donkey a common symbol of the Democratic Party.

As for the cartoon of Uncle Sam, which appeared and was dedicated in 1852, it was by another artist named Frank Henry Bellow.

The United States appeared through the popular character of “Uncle Sam,” a tall old man with gray hair, sharp features, and an old-fashioned beard, wearing a hat in the colors of the American flag, striped slacks, and a coat with two sections at the back.

The story of how “Uncle Sam” came into existence:

The first mention of "Uncle Sam" in the American press appeared on September 7, 1813, in the New York City newspaper "Troy Post" in an article about the American-British War of 1812-1814.

This newspaper wrote on that occasion: “The objectionable title which our Government has acquired has become almost as common as the common name of John Bull for a typical, narrow-minded and self-satisfied British bourgeoisie.”

The John Bull that the American newspaper talked about is a character of a British farmer from a propaganda pamphlet by the satirist John Arbuthnot that was published in 1712, and he became an ideal image of the Englishman, with his red face, distinctive hat, huge belly, and his fondness for beer and whisky.

As for the real “Uncle Sam,” he appeared in 1812. The man is a butcher named Samuel Wilson, and he works as a supplier of food supplies for the American army during that war.

Samuel Wilson was born in Massachusetts, joined the army at the age of 15, and served during the American Revolution. He later moved to New York and founded the E&S Wilson Company, which was a meat supplier, with his brother Ebenezer. The man was famous in the city and was called "Uncle Sam." It is worth noting that the name Sam is shortened from Samuel.

Uncle Sam, a meat supplier to the US military, marked the barrels carrying his meat shipments with the letters "US".

The common story is that an Irish soldier in a US Army camp, many of whom at the time knew "Uncle Sam" personally, was asked what the letters "US" printed on barrels of meat meant, and he jokingly replied, "Uncle Sam."

In addition to the two letters being identical in meaning in English, this soldier who was guarding a meat warehouse meant that the barrels of meat came to the American army from the businessman, the butcher, Uncle Sam, or Sam Wilson, and hence the name of the United States was associated with Uncle Sam.

Although there is no original portrait of the real-life Butcher, the fictional "Uncle Sam" was later established as a symbol of the United States by artist James Montgomery Flagg.

During World War I, this artist painted a propaganda poster calling for volunteering in the American Army. He depicted “Uncle Sam,” with his stern features, pointing his finger at those watching him, saying: “I need you in the United States Army.”

On September 15, 1961, the US Congress issued a resolution recognizing Sam Wilson as a prototype of Uncle Sam: “the predecessor of the American national symbol of Uncle Sam.” Shortly thereafter, a memorial was erected in his hometown, Arlington, Massachusetts.

Sam Wilson, or the real Uncle Sam, died in 1854 at the age of 88, and was buried in Troy, New York, and the city is now called “The Home of Uncle Sam.”

Over time, "Uncle Sam" became known throughout the world, and this nickname stuck in the United States with the image of an angry, aggressive old man who poked his nose into other people's affairs, committed the most horrific acts and dressed as a preacher.