Thomas Nast, 1840-1902. Born in Bavaria, he came to New York in 1846. At fifteen he became a draftsman for Frank Leslie’s Illustrated. He briefly worked for the New York Illustrated News and the Illustrated London News. In 1861 Nast became a staff artist for Harper’s Weekly. Considered to be the "Father of the American Cartoon," he was a caricaturist, satirist, and editorial cartoonist. His vivid war drawings greatly influenced public opinion.(1249, 1332)* During the Civil War years his work was pro Lincoln, pro Union, and anti Slavery.(1325)* He portrayed Southerners as the enemy—and sometimes as cruel and brutal.(1516)* Abraham Lincoln called him, "our best recruiting sergeant." Nast’s political cartoons were considered important in securing Lincoln’s second election. President Grant said, “Two things elected me, the sword of Sheridan and the pencil of Thomas Nast.” Nast’s dramatic cartoons exposing the Tweed Ring in New York City, 1869-1872 made his famous. (1324, 1318)* Nast invented the Tammany Tiger, the Republican elephant and the Democratic donkey. During and after the Civil War, he did sentimental Christmas scenes including his famous rendition of Santa Claus. In all he produced over three thousand pictures.