Grateful American Foundation | David Bruce Smith Publications

On March 13, 1852, the Uncle Sam cartoon figure made its debut in the New York Lantern weekly. From the article:

"What is the history of Uncle Sam? | Grateful American™ Foundation

March 13, 1852 — Frank Bellew’s cartoon, “Uncle Sam,” made its debut today in the NY Lantern Weekly.

The character’s name is attributed to Samuel Wilson, a meat packer who supplied food to the troops during the War of 1812. Legend has it that he conspicuously marked “U.S.” on the packages and before long the soldiers took to calling him “Uncle Sam.”

However, the first use in literature of the concept of the patriot Uncle Sam was in the 1816 book, “The Adventures of Uncle Sam in Search After His Lost Honor,” by Frederick Augustus Fidfaddy, Esq.

And, Uncle Sam is mentioned as early as 1775, in the original “Yankee Doodle” lyrics of the American Revolutionary War.

Did you know: New Yorker cartoonist Thomas Nast, who created political party mascots and Santa Claus, is often credited with creating the Uncle Sam archetype. While he may have popularized it, Nast was just 12 years old when that cartoon originally appeared. And, historians argue that the image did not take hold in popular consciousness until the iconic “Uncle Sam Wants You” recruitment poster made by James Montgomery Flagg during WW I."

Words of Wisdom for March 13, 2017

Old Uncle Sam come there to change, some pancakes and some onions, for ‘lasses cakes, to carry home, to give his wife and young ones.

— 13th stanza of "Yankee Doodle." It is not clear whether this reference is to Uncle Sam as a metaphor for the United States, or to an actual person named Sam. The lyrics as a whole clearly deride the military efforts of the young nation, besieging the British at Boston."