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'''Columbia''' was a female figure who was common representation in art of the United States in the 19th century. The term derived of course from [[Christopher Columbus]]. It was introduced by black poet [[Phillis Wheatley]] (1753-1784) in her 1776 poem, "To His Excellency George Washington".<ref> Previous poems by others had used the term in the 1760s, but they were forgotten.</ref>  Washington was impressed and asked to meet Wheatley.  the term caught public fancy and many places were named after her, such as the [[District of Columbia]], [[Columbia University]], and the Colombia River.<Ref>British Columbia, part of Canada, is named after the river.</ref>

'''Columbia''' was a female figure who was common representation in art of the United States in the 19th century. The term derived of course from [[Christopher Columbus]]. It was introduced by black poet [[Phillis Wheatley]] (1753-1784) in her 1776 poem, "To His Excellency George Washington".<ref> Previous poems by others had used the term in the 1760s, but they were forgotten.</ref>  Washington was impressed and asked to meet Wheatley.  the term caught public fancy and many places were named after her, such as the [[District of Columbia]], [[Columbia University]], and the Colombia River.<Ref>British Columbia, part of Canada, is named after the river.</ref> Before Columbia came into wide use around 1790, America was often represented as an Indian princess, especially in European cartoons.

[[File:Columb1.jpg|thumb|430px|[[Thomas Nast]], the great cartoonist of the 1870s, often used Columbia to portray America.  Here she is tied down by taxes and restrictions. ''Harper's Weekly'' Feb. 9, 1878]]

[[File:Columb1.jpg|thumb|430px|[[Thomas Nast]], the great cartoonist of the 1870s, often used Columbia to portray America.  Here she is tied down by taxes and restrictions. ''Harper's Weekly'' Feb. 9, 1878]]