Which US Presidents Had Beards

Did you know that since 1913, every single US president hasn't had a beard? Surprising, right? Perhaps what's even more surprising was how common beards were in the preceding decades – beards were almost a qualifying factor to be president.

Indeed, some of the most famous commanders-in-chief, from Abraham Lincoln to John Quincy Adams, have sported prominent facial hair. So, why were beards used to be so popular? What happened? And which US presidents had facial hair? Let's find out.

In this article, you'll find:

• Why Did Beards Used to Be Popular?
• Why Don't US Presidents Have Beards Anymore?
• Which US Presidents Had Beards?

Why Did Beards Used to Be Popular?

US beard history isn't nearly as well-known as it should be! It broadly falls into three periods:

1. The Pre-Lincon Fresh-Faced Executives
2. The Lincoln Phenomenon
3. The Decline of the Beard

In the earliest days of the United States, beards were almost entirely unheard of. The only notable exception is John Quincy Adams (1825-1829), who sported some pretty noticeable sideburns. This marked the pre-Lincoln clean-shaved era, where presidents, much like the rest of society, shaved their beards. The only real exception is the sideburn – with Martin Van Buren (1837-1841) and Zachary Taylor (1849-1850) following in Adams's footsteps.

Then came Lincoln. As with everything else, he changed the presidential expectation of a clean-shaven appearance. The story goes that the president received a letter from eleven-year-old Grace Bedell, who told Mr. Lincoln that growing some whiskers would greatly improve his appearance. Lincoln obliged, growing his distinctive chinstrap beard.

For around fifty years after his death, almost every single president had some kind of facial hair – usually a thick, healthy beard. So, what changed?

Why Don't US Presidents Have Beards Anymore?

Two significant trends marked the end of the bearded president era. First, the invention of the safety razor made shaving easier than ever. Slowly but surely, presidents moved from beards to mustaches to purely clean-shaven. Harry Truman briefly grew a mustache and goatee after the 1948 presidential election, but it was mostly a joke. 

The other reason is the belief that beards harbored germs. According to a 1903 editorial in Harper's Weekly: "Now that consumption is no longer consumption, but tuberculosis, and is not hereditary but infectious…the theory of science is that the beard is infected with the germs of tuberculosis." 

Once the beard later became associated with radicals and hippies, the trend was set in stone. No self-respecting politicians could expect to be taken seriously with a beard. There's also the eternal fear of looking like any of the twentieth-century dictators, from Lenin to Hitler (or even Marx, for that matter).

Today, a group called the Bearded Entrepreneurs for the Advancement of a Responsible Democracy advocate for political candidates with "a full beard and a savvy mind full of growth-oriented policy positions that will move our great nation towards a more lush and magnificent future."

Which US Presidents Had Beards?

Only five US presidents have grown full beards – out of a total of 11 who sported any kind of facial hair. It's a sad fact that no president in over 100 years has bucked the clean-shaven trend. We live in hope. However, we can still honor the five bearded presidents:

1. The inaugural bearded president of the United States was Abraham Lincoln, who may have assumed the presidency sans beard in March 1861 if not for an 11-year-old girl from New York, Grace Bedell. Displeased with his beardless appearance during the 1860 campaign, Bedell penned a letter to Lincoln before the election, suggesting he grow whiskers to improve his appearance and appeal, particularly among women who could influence their husbands' votes. Heeding her advice, Lincoln cultivated a beard, which was more of a chinstrap style as he kept his upper lip clean-shaven.
2. Ulysses Grant was the second president to sport facial hair, known for his untamed and bushy beard during the Civil War. Despite this distinctive style, he trimmed his beard to please his wife, distinguishing himself from Lincoln by sporting a full beard. James Sanks Brisbin, an author in 1868, noted Grant's neatly trimmed reddish beard and matching mustache.
3. The third bearded president, Rutherford B. Hayes, is remembered for having the longest beard among the five bearded presidents, often compared to Walt Whitman's. He served as president from 1877 to 1881.
4. James Garfield, the fourth president with a beard, had facial hair often likened to Rasputin's, characterized by its black color with gray streaks.
5. Benjamin Harrison, the fifth and final bearded president, maintained his beard throughout his presidency from 1889 to 1893, marking the end of an era for bearded presidents in the White House. His presidency is noted for this distinctive feature during an otherwise undistinguished term.

Of course, as mentioned, these presidents are the only members of the presidential facial hair Hall of Fame (if only such a thing existed). Several other presidents also made contributions to beardedness:

• John Quincy Adams, who wore mutton chops.
• Chester Arthur, who wore a mustache and mutton chops.
• Martin Van Buren, who wore mutton chops.
• Grover Cleveland, who wore a mustache.
• Theodore Roosevelt, who wore a mustache.
• William Taft, who wore a mustache.

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