Grow a Beard, Mr. Lincoln: How Facial Hair Changed a Presidency

In the pantheon of iconic beards, few are as historically significant—or unexpectedly delightful—as the one worn by the 16th President of the United States: Abraham Lincoln. His chin curtain, as it’s formally called, wasn’t always part of his signature look. In fact, Lincoln ran most of his early political career clean-shaven, a rarity for the rugged, rail-splitting figure we all picture today.

But the story of how Honest Abe grew his beard isn’t just an aesthetic choice—it’s a tale of image, persuasion, innocence, and the subtle power of a well-timed suggestion. Gather round, gentlemen, because this is a beard story worthy of the ages.

A Nation on the Brink—and a President Without a Beard

It was the autumn of 1860. America was on the edge of civil war, and Abraham Lincoln, a tall, wiry lawyer from Illinois, had just been nominated as the Republican candidate for president. He was brilliant, eloquent, and principled—but let’s just say… he wasn’t exactly winning any beauty contests.

Photos from the era show Lincoln’s gaunt face, high cheekbones, deep-set eyes—and a jawline that, while noble in profile, wasn’t doing him any political favors. Public perception of presidential candidates mattered, and Lincoln was up against more traditionally handsome rivals.

But fate had a curious twist in store for him… in the form of an 11-year-old girl with an eye for style.

Enter Grace Bedell: The Girl Who Changed History with a Pen

On October 15, 1860, Grace Bedell, a young girl from Westfield, New York, sat down with her pen and wrote a letter that would echo through history:

"Dear Sir... I have got four brothers and part of them will vote for you anyway, and if you will let your whiskers grow, I will try and get the rest of them to vote for you... You would look a great deal better for your face is so thin. All the ladies like whiskers and they would tease their husbands to vote for you."

Yes, you read that right. An 11-year-old girl told the future President of the United States that his face was too thin and he’d look better with a beard. And that if he complied, she’d campaign for him. Imagine that pitch from a political strategist today.

Lincoln Responds—and Then He Grows It

Amazingly, Lincoln wrote her back just a few days later:

"As to the whiskers, having never worn any, do you not think people would call it a piece of silly affectation if I were to begin it now?"

He didn’t commit—but he was listening.

Not long after, as the campaign heated up and he prepared to take office, something changed. Lincoln let the whiskers grow. Slowly, a full beard began to frame that famously angular face, softening it, giving him gravitas, and transforming his public image.

By the time Lincoln embarked on his inaugural train tour from Illinois to Washington D.C., the beard was in full glory—and he made a point to stop in Westfield, New York, to meet Grace Bedell in person.

The Moment the Beard Met Its Muse

Imagine the scene: a cold February day in 1861. A massive crowd gathers at the train station. Lincoln steps off the train, towering over the crowd at 6’4”, now sporting the beard that would become iconic. He calls out:

"Is there a little girl here named Grace Bedell?"

Grace is brought forward, and Lincoln bends down, shakes her hand, and says, “You see, I let these whiskers grow for you, Grace.”

She’d done it. She had bearded a President.

Why the Beard Mattered

The beard did more than win hearts. It reshaped Lincoln’s public image. In a time when beards were symbols of wisdom, strength, and honor, it gave him a fatherly, trustworthy appearance—someone the nation could look to during its darkest hour.

It was a subtle move, but profound. With his beard, Lincoln didn’t just look the part of a leader—he became it. The beard softened his features but hardened his legend.

Legacy: The Beard That United a Nation

Lincoln’s beard has been immortalized in statues, currency, and collective memory. It's not just facial hair—it's a symbol of transformation, of listening, of connecting, and of evolving into the leader a fractured country needed.

At Blackwood Reserve, we believe every beard tells a story. Some speak of rebellion. Some whisper of wisdom. And some—like Lincoln’s—shape the course of history.

Grow Bold. Lead with Grace. Wear it Well.

Whether you're a rail-splitter, a revolutionary, or just a man of conviction, let Lincoln’s tale remind you: sometimes, the right beard can change everything.

Grow it. Own it. Live it.

—Blackwood ReserveFor Beards That Make History