On August 20, 1833, Benjamin Harrison was born, a politician who became the 23rd President of the United States. Interestingly, his grandfather, William Henry Harrison, was also the President of the United States, making the two of them the only grandfather-grandson couple in the history of the President of the United States.
Benjamin Harrison was also the last American president to wear a full beard. Interestingly, only four presidents in American history wore such a beard: Ulysses Grant, Rutherford Hayes, James Garfield, and the aforementioned Benjamin Harrison. Another president wore a beard – Abraham Lincoln – but not full, but without a mustache (Lincoln had a specific beard that covered only the lower part of his face).
Four American presidents wore mustaches but no beards. They were Chester Arthur, Grover Cleveland, Theodore Roosevelt and William Taft. It is very interesting that in the last hundred years, no American president wore a beard or mustache at the time of the election. The last elected president with any hair on his face was William Taft, who served until 1913.
The last candidate for president from the main parties (Republican and Democratic parties) with a mustache was Thomas E. Dewey in 1948, but failed to be elected. Today, it is generally believed that a beard or mustache reduces the likelihood of winning the U.S. presidential election.
