I Had Always Thought That Uncle Sam Was A Fictional Character,

but he was actually based on a real person,

the image of Uncle Sam that many of us are familiar with, was created by James Montgomery Flagg (1877-1960) who was a political cartoonist from the late-1800s onwards, He created the most iconic poster of Uncle Sam, Flagg evolved the image of Sam, applying a white beard as well as change in wardrobe, stars and stripes were added to the personification’s suit, it was originally published as the cover for the July 6, 1916, issue of Leslie’s Weekly with the title "What are You Doing for Preparedness?" 


between 1917 and 1918, over four million copies were printed, this poster served as propaganda for the United States as it entered World War I, the image was widely distributed and has been re-used with different captions, during the same war, WWI, this image reached its peak popularity when the words "I Want You For The U.S. Army" were chosen, but back to the original Uncle Sam, or at least where the name came from,

Samuel Wilson (September 13, 1766 – July 31, 1854) was a meat-packer from Troy, New York, on March 8, 1793, Samuel and his brother Ebeneezer leased the western half of lot 112, now 43 Ferry St., from Jacob Vanderhyden for 30 shillings a year, this was the year the Wilson brothers began E & S Wilson, which was the Wilson brothers’ introduction to the profitable meat business, during the war of 1812  E & S Wilson’s location and dock made the business ready and ideal, Secretary of War Eustris made a contract with Elbert Anderson Jr. of New York City to supply and issue all rations necessary for the United States forces in New York and New Jersey for one year, Anderson ran an advertisement on October 6, 13, and 20 looking to fill the contract. E & S Wilson secured the contract for 2,000 barrels of pork and 3,000 barrels of beef for one year,


each barrel was required to be labelled, and marked “E.A.-U.S.” this marking indicated Elbert Anderson, United States, the great majority of E & S Wilson’s meat was shipped close by to a camp of 6,000 soldiers in Greenbush, New York, many soldiers stationed in Greenbush were locals of Troy, they knew of and/or were acquainted with Sam Wilson and his nickname Uncle Sam, who was not only known to them as well as his meat packing business but well liked within the community, these soldiers recognised the barrels being from Troy and made an association between the "U.S." stamp and Uncle Sam, over time, it is believed, anything marked with the same initials, as much Army property was, also became linked with his name, so now I know.