Thomas Nast

Thomas Nast was a German-born American caricaturist and editorial cartoonist. He created the modern version of Santa Claus and the political symbol of the elephant for the Republican Party. Though he did not create them he did popularise Uncle Sam (the male personification of the American people) and Columbia (the female personification of American values). Nast was associated with the magazine Harper's Weekly from 1859 to 1860 and from 1862 until 1886.