The “Uncle Sam” symbol originated during the War of 1812 when Samuel Wilson, a meat packer, supplied barrels of beef to the U.S. Army, stamped with the initials “U.S.” Soldiers began jokingly referring to the food as coming from “Uncle Sam,” and the nickname became associated with the U.S. government. Political cartoonist Thomas Nast popularized the image of Uncle Sam in the late 19th century, and it later became a ubiquitous symbol representing the United States, particularly during times of war and national unity.