Uncle Sam--the white bearded, elderly man with a red, white and blue top hat--is often-used in American rhetoric and advertisements. During the War of 1812 (between the United States and British Empire), Samuel Wilson (Uncle Sam), a successful meat-packer, signed a government contract to provide meat to American Soldiers. Samuel's friends coined the name "Uncle Sam." This nickname quickly caught on across the nation, especially with the military. Soldiers started calling themselves "Uncle Sam's soldiers," which coincidentally has the initials "U.S." Ever since, the American government is often referred to as Uncle Sam.