You might be surprised by how the term Uncle Sam came to be

Who’s your Uncle Sam?

On Sept. 13, the U.S. recognizes Uncle Sam Day to commemorate Sam Wilson, the man behind the iconic image and fascinating nickname for the United States government who was born on Sept. 13, 1766.

The image of Uncle Sam as a personification of our nation and government is widespread and instantly recognizable.

The first symbol to have such significance was Columbia, a female figure (the name is derived from Christopher Columbus) and is still an often-used symbol of our country through the early 20th century. Columbia first appeared in 1738 to refer to the Thirteen Colonies that became the U.S., and was often depicted with Lady Liberty. The name is used in many cities across the U.S. and was chosen when the capital was named District of Columbia in 1801.

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