<P> When we meet him in politics we call him Uncle Sam; when we meet him in society we call him Brother Jonathan . Here of late Uncle Sam alias Brother Jonathan has been doing a powerful lot of complaining, hardly doing anything else . (sic) </P> <P> A March 24, 1810 journal entry by Isaac Mayo states: </P> <P> weighed anchor stood down the harbour, passed Sandy Hook, where there are two light - houses, and put to sea, first and second day out most deadly seasick, oh could I have got on shore in the hight (sic) of it, I swear that uncle Sam, as they call him, would certainly forever have lost the services of at least one sailor . </P> <P> The precise origin of the Uncle Sam character is unclear, but a popular legend is that the name "Uncle Sam" was derived from Samuel Wilson, a meatpacker from Troy, New York who supplied rations for American soldiers during the War of 1812 . There was a requirement at the time for contractors to stamp their name and where the rations came from onto the food they were sending . Wilson's packages were labeled "E.A--US ." When someone asked what that stood for, a co-worker jokingly said, "Elbert Anderson (the contractor) and Uncle Sam," referring to Wilson, though the "US" actually stood for United States . Doubts have been raised as to the authenticity of this story, as the claim did not appear in print until 1842 . Additionally, the earliest known mention definitely referring to the metaphorical Uncle Sam is from 1810, predating Wilson's contract with the government . As early as 1835, Brother Jonathan made a reference to Uncle Sam, implying that they symbolized different things: Brother Jonathan was the country itself, while Uncle Sam was the government and its power . </P>

Where did the term uncle sam come from