The uniqueness of Lincoln's beard

[L Verge]

I just received a message that had this quote from Martin Luther King. I had not seen it before, and it struck me that it spoke to this topic of Lincoln's uniqueness:

"We are not makers of history. We are made by history."

Some might argue that Lincoln made history because his election to the Presidency caused the Civil War and then saved the Union. I prefer to think that his political maneuvers on the issue of slavery were shaped by what had transpired before he assumed the office and continued to shape him as a person and President. Likewise, the fact that he had to deal with the Civil War created the man that has turned into such an icon for our country.

I'm not sure that Lincoln would be considered unique (or even have become President) without the forces of history and society that had already passed before he entered the political arena. Some of those influences also worked against him in the eyes of many during that period.

[Eva Elisabeth]

Abraham Lincoln would pretty sure agree. He said something similar in a letter to Albert G. Hodges:
"...I attempt no compliment to my own sagacity. I claim not to have controlled events, but confess plainly that events have controlled me...God alone can claim it."
http://www.abrahamlincolnonline.org/linc...hodges.htm

[HerbS]

Do the times make the leader or does the leader make the times? I tend to think that both are important!

[Gene C]

I think the person makes the Times
(except in 1982 and 1988)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_Person_of_the_Year

[LincolnMan]

I was asked today how we know what color Lincoln's beard was- brown or black?
Did any Lincoln contemporary say?

[Gene C]

Black
(which reminds me a song)

Black is The Colour of My True Loves Hair
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Qsdsu2pIBE

[LincolnMan]

Who is the source?

[Gene C]

In all of the black and white photo's I've seen it looks black

The best source I could find was Abraham Lincoln himself
” If any personal description of me is thought desirable, it may be said, I am, in height, six feet, four inches, nearly; lean in flesh, weighing, on an average, one hundred and eighty pounds; dark complexion, with coarse black hair, and grey eyes — no other marks or brands recollected”

[LincolnMan]

Great source! Thank you Gene. Good song too.

[Eva Elisabeth]

I've rarely seen real black hair with (phylogenetical) Europeans, even seen Asians whose hair appeared black turning out to have very dark brown hair. So I'd like to see for myself to believe...(and so far tend to think dark brown more likely).

[Mylye2222]

As we all know, Lincoln only sported a beard the last four or so years of his life (as it turned out). Did you ever wonder why he chose the style he did? In particular, why did he not have a mustache to go along with it? As I look at photographs and prints of men from that era I don't see those like the one Lincoln had. it was a matter of personal taste I'm sure-or was it?

Bill,
You probably know this, but there was a young girl named Grace Bedell from New York who wrote a letter to Lincoln telling him that he would look better with a beard. I believe that he actually met her at one of his campaign stops. I'll bet you that Mary had something to do with the way Lincoln grew his beard.

Craig

Yes the train stopped at Grace's Town for such purpose. Lincoln wished to acknowledge to her and say thank you. In fact, we can count Grace Bedell as an early image advisor, before the name and job existed.