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Sam Wilson

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Entrepreneur

The Resume

    (September 13, 1766-July 31, 1854)
    Born in Arlington, Massachusetts
    Established a meat-packing business in Troy, New York (1789)
    Reported inspiration for the personification of the United States as Uncle Sam
    Soldiers receiving supplies from his firm during the War of 1812 allegedly joked that the initials U.S. on shipping barrels stood for 'Uncle Sam' Wilson

Why he might be annoying:

    Most etymologists think that 'Uncle Sam' was just a jocular expansion on the initials 'U.S.' and was not based on any real person.
    Although one of the earliest references to Uncle Sam occurred in the Troy Post, the paper never suggested there was a connection with one of the city's residents.
    Similarly, when Wilson died, none of the obituaries in Troy newspapers mentioned his alleged inspiration for Uncle Sam.
    Two obituaries from Albany did credit him as the original Uncle Sam, suggesting the legend was invented by out-of-towners with no direct knowledge of the facts.

Why he might not be annoying:

    He joined the American Revolutionary Army when he was fifteen.
    He has monuments marking his birthplace in Massachusetts, his boyhood home in New Hampshire and his burial site in New York.
    The Senate and House adopted a resolution honoring him as the original Uncle Sam (1961), so if the story is BS, at least it is officially sanctioned BS.

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 17 Votes: 5.88% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 9 Votes: 44.44% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 5 Votes: 20.0% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 119 Votes: 49.58% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 6 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 15 Votes: 53.33% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 11 Votes: 45.45% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 20 Votes: 45.00% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 11 Votes: 72.73% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 29 Votes: 55.17% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 540 Votes: 36.11% Annoying