Brother Jonathan was a fictional character created to personify the entire United States, in the early days of the country's existence.
In editorial cartoons and patriotic posters, Brother Jonathan was usually depicted as a typical American revolutionary, with tri-cornered hat and long military jacket. Originally, from 1776 to 1783, "Brother Jonathan" was a mildly derisive term used by the Loyalists to describe the Patriots.
Famous quotes containing the words brother and/or jonathan:
“And Space with gaunt grey eyes and her brother Time
Wheeling and whispering come,”
—James Elroy Flecker (1884–1919)
“He won’t come after me. He won’t. I can’t explain it. He’d consider that rude.”
—Ted Tally, U.S. screenwriter, and Jonathan Demme. Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster)