Brother Jonathan

Before Uncle Sam became a national symbol, 

Brother Jonathan represented the United States....

Brother Jonathan was a personification of New England, and was also used as an common symbol of the United States.  The character was sometimes used as an allegory of capitalism. 

His short pants, tight waistcoat and old fashioned style 

reflect his taste for inexpensive and affordable products.

Brother Jonathan soon became a stock fictional character, developed as a parody during the early American Republic. 

He was widely popularized by the weekly newspaper 

"Brother Jonathan" and the humor magazine "Yankee Notions".

The character was adopted by citizens of New England from 1783 to 1815, when Brother Jonathan became a nickname 

for any Yankee sailor, similar to the way that G.I. is used 

to describe members of the U.S. Army.

More information concerning brother Jonathan can be found thru the New England Historical Society.

The term "Uncle Sam" is thought to date approximately to the War of 1812. Uncle Sam appeared in newspapers from 1813 to 1815.  In 1816 he was the subject of an allegorical book titled,

"The Adventures of Uncle Sam, in Search After his Lost Honor" .