Charles Darwin
Charles Darwin, born in 1809, is without a doubt one of the most famous scientists of all time, yet many people are unaware that photographs of him exist. Darwin was so important in science that by the time he died in 1882, “evolutionary imagery had spread through all of science, literature, and politics,” according to Britannica. This photograph is thought to have been taken about 1854.
Charles Darwin
Uncle Sam
You might not have realized Uncle Sam was a real person! In case you’re not familiar, “Uncle Sam” is the well-known patriotic figure depicted on the poster that states, “I want you for the United States Army.” The real-life Uncle Sam, born Samuel Wilson in 1766, worked as a meat packer in Troy, New York. He supplied troops with meat shipped in barrels during the War of 1812. The barrels had the logo “U.S.,” which stood for “United States,” but many joked that it actually stood for “Uncle Sam.” The trope eventually spread, and the rest is history (literally). This photograph of Wilson was taken in the 1850s and is the only one known of him.
Uncle Sam
