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Uncle Sam

Uncle Sam, we've all heard of him but who is he. The prevailing theory suggests that Uncle Sam was named after Samuel Wilson. During the War of 1812, Samuel Wilson provided large quantities of meat to the US Army. The shipments were stamped "U.S." It is thought someone referred to the stamp as "Uncle Sam Wilson" and this eventually became associated with the government. Artists and cartoonist of 1930s and 1940s created the white bearded, stars and stripped Uncle Sam that we all know. He does not resemble Samuel Wilson.