On September 7, 1813, the United States got its nickname, Uncle
Sam. The name is linked to Samuel Wilson (shown below), a meat
packer from Troy, New York, who supplied barrels of beef to the
United States Army during the War of 1812. Wilson (1766-1854)
stamped the barrels with “U.S.” for United States, but soldiers
began referring to the grub as “Uncle Sam’s.” The local paper 
picked up on the story and Uncle Sam eventually gained 
widespread acceptance as the nickname for, and
personification of, the U.S. federal government.

Samuel Wilson (September 13, 1766 – July 31, 1854)