Show uncle sam brother jonathan brother Jb nathan Is the older appellation it was applied first by american loyalists from 1776 to 1783 as a term of derision to the patriots later the term was used generally to indicate any country bumpkin states literary digest jonathan trumbull 1710 85 governor of connecticut from 1798 1796 to 1783 was a close friend of general washington frequently consulted by him and often addressed by him as brother jonathan the term uncle sam appears to have arisen about 1813 and was presumably a jocular ex extension of the initials U S |