Even if your parents don’t have any brothers, did you know you still have an uncle? It’s true! He’s really tall. He has white hair and a goatee. He often wears a red, white and blue outfit and a top hat. And guess what? He wants YOU!
Who are we talking about? Uncle Sam, of course! For almost 200 years, the cartoon-like character of Uncle Sam has symbolized the United States. When an object or idea — like an entire country, for example — is made to seem like a real person, we call that personification.
Historians believe that the personification of the United States as Uncle Sam began during the War of 1812. During that war, a meat packer named Samuel Wilson from Troy, New York, shipped beef to the U.S. Army in large barrels.
These barrels had “U.S.” on the outside of them, which stood for “United States.” Mr. Wilson’s workers, though, often joked that the “U.S.” stood for “Uncle Sam” Wilson.
Over time, the shipments became known as presents from “Uncle Sam.” Since it was the United States federal government that was providing the food for its soldiers, “Uncle Sam” soon became associated with the U.S. government.
Did Samuel Wilson look like the cartoon pictures of Uncle Sam that are so familiar? Nope! The cartoon-like character we quickly recognize as Uncle Sam was actually invented by artists who created political cartoons for newspapers.
One of the most famous cartoonists to draw Uncle Sam was a man named Thomas Nast. He drew many of the first cartoons of Uncle Sam in the late 1860s and early 1870s.
Probably the most famous picture of Uncle Sam, though, was on a U.S. Army recruiting poster. Designed for World War I and used again in World War II, the poster features a caption that reads “I Want You for U.S. Army.” The poster’s artist was James Montgomery Flagg, who also served as the model for Uncle Sam!
(12 votes, avg. 4.42 out of 5) 
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A man who liked bikes. Oh, and all the ones with my mom’s name are messed up. From now on put Andrew.
Happy Tuesday, Andrew! Thanks for letting us know to use your name. Sometimes, when parents have their computers set a certain way and their kids try to leave a comment on a website like Wonderopolis, the computer automatically uses their parent’s information. You can also change it to your name before you comment if you wish! Have a GREAT day!
Guten Tag Wonderopolis! It’s German Girl!
Hi, German Friend! Thanks so much for visiting Wonderopolis! We think you might know a few friends of ours…Food Allergy Girl and Sheboygan! We think you ALL rock for being such great Wonder Friends!
This is a fun. You also learn a lot of things.
We’re so glad you think Wonderopolis is FUN, Emmielue! We like learning here, and we think it’s AWESOME that you do, too!
But did Uncle Sam exist?
Hi, Wonder Friend! Many historians believe Uncle Sam WAS a real person who’s name was Samuel Wilson. He was from Troy, New York. We encourage you to re-visit today’s Wonder to learn more about him!
I think that Uncle Sam is not a kid like the picture.
Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts about Uncle Sam, Shundee! We appreciate your comment!
WOW, I never knew that Uncle Sam over time, the shipments became known as presents from “Uncle Sam.” Since it was the United States federal government that was providing the food for its soldiers, “Uncle Sam” soon became associated with the U.S. government.
We really liked that fact too, Barbara! Thanks for hanging out in Wonderopolis today and for sharing what you learned by exploring today’s Wonder!
Guess what? I know Uncle Sam. Do you know Uncle Sam, because I do.
Hi, Niya! We think it’s GREAT that you know Uncle Sam! We really enjoyed learning about him today and we hope you learned some new things about him, too!
Dear wonderopolis,
Yesterday’s video was funny and this video is not working today for me and my friends, Ella and Ava. Can you fix it for us? Thank you. Have a great day.
Thanks for sharing how you guys feel about the video for today’s Wonder, Ashley, Ella and Ava! We appreciate your opinion! Sometimes we choose videos that explain the Wonder of the Day® a little more or work to help ignite thinking and creativity. Sometimes we choose videos that simply show people doing something fun related to that Wonder’s topic. We think it was AWESOME to see where the real Uncle Sam was buried in the video for today’s Wonder!
Mrs. Watson’s 3rd grade class think it’s really cool to find out that Uncle Sam was a real person, not just a drawing.
We thought learning that ROCKED, too, Mr. P. and Mrs. Watson’s 3rd Grade Class! We never knew the history of Uncle Sam, so we’re glad an awesome Wonder Friend WONDERed about it and suggested it for a future Wonder of the Day®!
Wow, I did not know that Uncle Sam was in the war or came from Troy, New York!
We’re all learning LOTS of cool new facts about Uncle Sam today, Rylan! Thanks for sharing what you liked learning best!
How did Sam become so famous?
That’s a GREAT question, Joshua! We think once a few people started saying that Sam Wilson’s food shipments were from “Uncle Sam,” the word spread, and more people started hearing about him. We encourage you to re-visit today’s Wonder to learn how illustrations of Uncle Sam helped him become even MORE famous!
Wow, I did not know that! I didn’t know he was real!
That was a cool wonder! I wonder what’s next for tomorrow? 
Happy Tuesday, Hannah! We’re glad you learned something new about Uncle Sam by exploring today’s Wonder, and also that you’re WONDERing what tomorrow’s Wonder might be about!
Hi, wonderopolis. I think that Uncle Sam is cool. Once my church had a 4th of July party, and someone dressed up as Uncle Sam.
We like seeing how some people dress up for the 4th of July, Taylor! All that red, white and blue makes us feel happy! Thanks for sharing your story about Uncle Sam…it was GREAT!
That is so cool about Uncle Sam. I didn’t know all that, including that he was actually real! I enjoyed knowing that he shipped meat, and how he said that the u.s. stood for Uncle Sam!!!! Thanks Wonderopolis
Thank YOU, too, Madalynn! We sure appreciate your comment today and how you shared some of the things you learned about Uncle Sam! Great job!
Hey Wonderopolis,
I have lots of Aunts and Uncles. My dad has the biggest number of bro’s and sis’. This was an awesome WONDERopolis! I never knew how or when Uncle Sam was created or first drawn. I never knew that “U.S” stood for Uncle Sam!!
Hannah
Thanks for sharing a little about your family, Hannah! Having lots of aunts and uncles must be fun!
In the video the man started to yodel.
Yes he did, Riley! We’re so happy you stopped by this Wonder today…THANK YOU for sharing your comment with us!
Uncle Sam was everyone’s favorite Uncle. Uncle Sam came from Samuel Wilson. Personificationed him as a character for the United States.
Thanks for this super awesome comment, Josh! We’re glad you stopped by Wonderopolis today!
Uncle Sam represents the U.S. Samuel Wilson died with his wife. Uncle Sam wears red, blue, and white clothes.
Those are AWESOME Uncle Sam facts, Tommy! Thanks so much for sharing them with us today!
Sam Wilson was a guy who represented the U.S.A. He loved the U.S.A. so much. He showed us how to take care of the U.S.A. He was a good man. It was a shame he died, at least he is by his wife.
We really like all the super nice things you said about Samuel Wilson, Eric! Thank you so much for being a GREAT Wonder Friend! We always appreciate the WONDERful comments we receive from our Wonder Friends at Kerrick Elementary!
From Ms. Zook: Thanks for sharing facts about Uncle Sam. I wonder if he was married, if he had children, and if he sent the meat to the soldiers, did he do so because he had a son in the army..hmm.
From Dillon: If he did have children, they were lucky, because they got to eat lots of meat.
From Jed: If he had a farm.
We’re SUPER PROUD of you, Ms. Zook, Dillon and Jed for doing such AMAZING extra WONDERing about Uncle Sam, Luke! We will all have to learn more about Uncle Sam on our own…maybe you guys can share some of the other things you learn with everyone in Wonderopolis by leaving us another comment! We like learning new things from our Wonder Friends, too!
I did a report on him.
That ROCKS, Ashlyn! Thanks for sharing your personal connection to this Wonder of the Day®!
I want to go into the US army when I grow up!
We think that’s a VERY admiral thing to aspire to do, ZTHEMAN! Have you visited past Wonder of the Day® #207 – What Do You Want To Be When You Grow Up? Here’s a link that will take you right to it: http://wonderopolis.org/wonder/what-do-you-want-to-be-when-you-grow-up/.
I knew we were going to be learning about Uncle Sam!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You DID guess what today’s Wonder would be about, Audrey! Way to go! We hope you had as much FUN learning about Uncle Sam today as we did!
Hi Wonderopolis!!!
You said in your comment that I might know some of the other friends. I do indeed know those people. Those are my sisters and brothers, we all use our mom’s email.
Food Allergy Girl: Me
Sheboygan: My mom
Emmz: sister
German Girl: My sister who has lived in Germany for her whole life
We all use different names
Thanks for sharing about your family, Food Allergy Girl! We’re glad you ALL visit Wonderopolis and leave us awesome comments!
My mom is about to have a baby.
That’s so exciting, Emmz! Congratulations to you and your family!
WHEN DID UNCLE SAM DIE???
WHERE DID HE DIE???
Hello, PUNK123456789! Those are GREAT questions! If you look at Samuel Wilson’s tombstone in the video for today’s Wonder, you will see that he died in July of 1854. We’re not quite sure if he died in the town where he lived (Troy, New York), so we’ll all have to do a bit more WONDERing about that one!
Dear Wonderopolis,
I never knew that Uncle Sam was a real person until today’s wonder. I was wondering who he was ’cause’ I read one of the comments and somebody guessed Uncle Sam.
How do you think of the wonder of the day before the next day? That wonder of the day for tomorrow is a little bit of a toughie.
My friend Ella was trying to post a comment and she wrote it and it would not send on our computers. I LOVE this website it is the best. Where was he berried? Do you know?
So I wonder what the wonder of the day will be tomorrow? I wonder what it would be like travel back to the dinosaur decade. I was reading what would it be like to travel back in the future. Do you know Bill Nye the science guy? Because if you got a science question or comments on it if you have a science wonder tell them to try to watch “Bill Nye the science guy.” Well, my mom enjoyed the yodeling video yesterday. Well, that’s all I have to say.
Love Ava from room 305 with Ashley and Ella
(not the comment with Ashley and Ella.)
We’re so glad you guys left us a comment on today’s Wonder about Uncle Sam, Ashely and Ella! Thank you so much! We are always getting great ideas for new Wonders from awesome Wonder Friends like you! Once we get an idea for a Wonder, it takes a good bit of time to turn it into a Wonder of the Day® that we can share with everyone in Wonderopolis!
We think Bill Nye the Science Guy is GREAT, too! Tell your mom we are glad she liked the yodeling video!
I knew it was Uncle Sam, but I forgot to put that in my last comment.
I like Uncle Sam a lot.
That’s OK, Joseph! We think it’s GREAT that you knew today’s Wonder was going to be about Uncle Sam! Way to go!
Dear Wonderopolis,
Cool wonder! Uncle Sam is very important person in our country’s history. I think tomorrow’s wonder is about bugs.
XOXOXOXOXO,
Paige
Hi there, Paige! You’re right about Uncle Sam! Thanks for stopping by Wonderopolis today and leaving us this GREAT comment!
I think tomorrow’s wonder will be hands.
Thanks for sharing what you think tomorrow’s Wonder will be about, German Girl! We appreciate your comment!
This WONDER Of The Day Is Swweett!!!!!!!!! I Always Wondered If Uncle Sam Was Real! And Now I Know! P.S I’ll Send You My Picture Via E-mail… Once I Come Up With It! Sincerely Your Wonder Friend, Joaquin
Thanks for letting us know you liked this Wonder, Joaquin! We really appreciate your enthusiastic comment! We can’t wait to see your personification picture of Wonderopolis!
I did not like this wonder very much.
Hi, Kaya! We appreciate your opinion about this Wonder of the Day®. We hope you will visit Wonderopolis again very soon…there’s SO MUCH to learn about here!
Your website stinks, I can’t see any videos.
We’re super sorry you aren’t able to see the videos on Wonderopolis, Comic Dragon! Sometimes parents (if you’re viewing Wonderopolis at home), schools and school districts place an internet “block” on videos from certain websites because they are trying to protect their students. You might want to check with your parent or teacher to ask if he or she might be able to get the block removed so you can see all the videos on Wonderopolis.
Your website is awesome. I love it. I get on every day. Can you do a wonder about Anne Frank?
Hi there, “Me!” We think it ROCKS that you say Wonderopolis is awesome! Did you know there is already a Wonder of the Day® about Anne Frank? It’s past Wonder #302 – Are All Diaries Secret? Here is a link that will take you right to it: http://wonderopolis.org/wonder/are-all-diaries-secret/. Happy WONDERing!
I never knew that U.S. stood for Uncle Sam. That is really cool. How did he die?
Hi, Jade! Thanks for sharing something cool you learned in Wonderopolis today! We’re not sure how the real Uncle Sam died, but if you look at his grave marker in the video, it says he lived to be 88 years old. We’re glad you visited Wonderopolis today!
I didn’t even know there was a real Uncle Sam. I thought he was just made up.
We thought it was cool to learn about the real Uncle Sam, too, Jonah! Thank you for checking out this Wonder and letting us know you were here!
Awesome I have an uncle named Sam.
How cool, Andy! We Wonder if the two Uncle Sams have a lot in common?!
I never knew “Uncle Sam” didn’t wear that red, white, and blue clothes. How cool!