Teddy Bear, everyone's cuddly companion
Teddy Bears have been tokens of love, comfort, safety, and remembrance for generations. These cuddly companions often evoke feelings of security and nostalgia, and the name has only added to the sense of the warmth they represent.
Who's Teddy?
So, where does the name Teddy Bear come from? The origin can be traced back to Theodore Roosevelt Jr., the 26th President of the United States of America.
Roosevelt reportedly hated his nickname ‘Teddy’, even though it was quite popular with the American public. Little did he know that the sobriquet would become such an enduring part of pop culture.
The story goes back to November 1902, when President Roosevelt was invited on a hunting trip to the state of Mississippi by Governor Andrew H. Longino.
Roosevelt was in pursuit of a black bear but, three days into the endeavour, had failed to nab one. His companions tracked down an already injured bear and tied her to a tree, so that the President could land his shot.
Roosevelt deemed the act ‘unsportsmanlike’ and refused to shoot the bear. The incident was then immortalized by cartoonist Clifford Berryman who drew this caricature for the Washington Post.
A global favourite is born
The cute, wide-eyed drawing of the bear was an instant hit. Morris Mitchtom, a Brooklyn candy-shop owner, created a stuffed toy version of it and called it ‘Teddy’s Bear’.
The toy flew off the shelves prompting Mitchtom to launch a toy company and mass-produce it. The name eventually evolved into ‘Teddy Bear’ and the icon landed a permanent place in global history.
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