How did this name 'Uncle Sam' signifying USA came into being?

Uncle Sam was mentioned as early as 1775 in the original Yankee Doodle song. In the song, most historians are not sure whether Uncle Sam is a personification of the United States or an actual person named Sam. read more

In the song, most historians are not sure whether Uncle Sam is a personification of the United States or an actual person named Sam. Common theories of the origin of Uncle Sam point to Samuel Wilson, a meatpacker during the War of 1812. read more

This Day in History: 09/07/1813 - U.S. Nicknamed Uncle Sam. This This Day in History video discusses how the nickname Uncle Sam came about. It seems that Samuel Wilson sold staples like beef to the military and his name was on the crates. Soldiers started referring to it as gear from Uncle Sam. The date was 9/07/1813. read more

The precise origin of the Uncle Sam character is unclear, but a popular legend is that the name"Uncle Sam" was derived from Samuel Wilson, a meatpacker from Troy, New York who supplied rations for American soldiers during the War of 1812. read more