Brother Jonathan
A personification of New England and early U.S. emblem.
Brother Jonathan is a personification of New England and, at times, an emblem of the United States, often used as an allegory of capitalism. He was a stock fictional character developed as a good-natured parody of New England during the early American Republic, popularized by the weekly newspaper Brother Jonathan and the humor magazine Yankee Notions. His appearance—too-short pants, too-tight waistcoat, and old-fashioned style—reflected a taste for inexpensive, second-hand products and efficient use of means.
Quick Facts
- First known use
- 17th century
- Derivation
- Biblical phrase from 2 Samuel 1:26
- Popularized by
- Brother Jonathan (weekly newspaper) and Yankee Notions (humor magazine)
- Associated governor
- Jonathan Trumbull (1710–1785)
- Later emulated by
- Uncle Sam (after 1865)
Facts from the source article.
History
The term "Brother Jonathan" first appeared in the 1600s, used by Royalists during the English Civil War to insult Puritan roundheads. It later described residents of colonial New England, who were mostly Puritans who backed the Parliamentarians. The name likely comes from a Bible verse in 2 Samuel 1:26, where David mourns his friend Jonathan, saying, "I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan." According to Kenneth Hopper and William Hopper, British officers later applied the same term to rebellious American colonists during the Revolutionary War. A common folk tale claims the character originated with Jonathan Trumbull, Connecticut's governor, who supplied the Northern and Middle Departments in the war. The story says George Washington once said, "We must consult Brother Jonathan," when asked how to win. But this origin is questionable, since neither Washington nor Trumbull mentioned it while alive, and the tale only appeared in the mid-1800s. Between 1783 and 1815, Brother Jonathan became a nickname for any Yankee sailor, much like "G.I." is used today for U.S. Army soldiers. The term "Uncle Sam" is believed to date from around the War of 1812, showing up in newspapers from 1813 to 1815 and in a book the following year.
Legacy
The phrase "We must consult Brother Jonathan" appears on graduation certificates of Yale University's Trumbull College, named for Trumbull. Some members of the Jonathan Club, a private social club in downtown Los Angeles, believe their club was named after Jonathan Trumbull or "Brother Jonathan," though the club formed in 1895 and the true inspiration is lost. Between 1891 and 1901, US socialist Daniel De Leon wrote over 300 editorials as dialogues between "Uncle Sam" (a class-conscious worker) and "Brother Jonathan" (a worker lacking class-consciousness).
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