By Jay Lucas
Sunshine Report
This week we are delighted to highlight the life of a Granite Stater from years past – Samuel Wilson of Mason, New Hampshire – also more famously known as ‘Uncle Sam’ – the inspiration for what later became our national caricature or nickname ‘Uncle Sam.’
As the young United States of America sought to establish its identity, it searched for symbols that would help do so. In 1812, a political cartoonist by the name of Thomas Nast immortalized the figure of Uncle Sam in his illustrations. Nast depicted Uncle Sam as a tall and imposing figure, clad in red, white, and blue, with a star-spangled top hat. This iconic representation of Uncle Sam quickly became ingrained in American culture and its national identity.
The story of how this happened is fascinating. Samuel Wilson who had fought in the Revolution went on to run a meat packing business – and later became the meat inspector for the United States army during the War of 1812. His inspection stamp – printed on the packaged meat – read ‘US’ for United States – but became more commonly referred to as standing for the name ‘Uncle Sam.’ Interestingly, Nast’s depiction of the Uncle Sam character looked quite similar to the real-life Samuel Wilson.
Samuel’s influence and the nickname “Uncle Sam” were widely known and celebrated in New Hampshire, becoming an emblem of the state’s commitment to American ideals.
To this day, New Hampshire proudly embraces its tie to Uncle Sam. The state’s residents honor Samuel’s legacy through various commemorations and events, particularly during patriotic holidays like Independence Day. Uncle Sam has become an enduring symbol of the state’s rich history and its unwavering dedication to the principles that define the United States. In fact, to commemorate his impact, the United States Congress adopted a resolution in September 1961, stating: “Resolved by the Senate and the House of Representatives that the Congress salutes Uncle Sam Wilson …as the progenitor of America’s National symbol of Uncle Sam.”
We are honored to highlight Samuel Wilson as our ‘Profile of the Week’ and to share this interesting vignette as we prepare to celebrate Independence Day – yet another birthday for ‘Uncle Sam.’
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