He made a promise — and kept it. 🧔✊ This man hasn’t shaved his beard in half a century, all because of Abraham Lincoln’s presidency! 🇺🇸 You can read his amazing story below in the article. 👇📜
History is full of unusual personal protests, but few are as extreme as that of Valentine Tapley, a Missouri farmer who turned a political disagreement into a lifelong commitment—by never shaving again.
At the age of 30, Tapley strongly opposed Abraham Lincoln’s presidential campaign. Living in a slaveholding state, he, like many of his neighbors, disapproved of Lincoln’s anti-slavery stance and Northern industrial policies. To express his discontent, he made a bold declaration: if Lincoln won the election, he would never cut his beard again.
On November 6, 1860, Lincoln was elected as the 16th President of the United States, and Tapley stayed true to his word. Even before his pledge, he had sported a fairly long beard, reaching about five feet in length. Over time, however, it grew to extraordinary proportions, forcing him to find creative ways to manage it. Initially, he tucked it inside his clothing to keep it from getting in the way while working on his farm. Later, as it became even longer, he wrapped it around his body and eventually commissioned a silk case to contain it.
As his beard extended beyond eight feet, Tapley gained national attention. His extraordinary facial hair became a local sensation, earning him invitations to exhibitions and fairs. One of the most notable offers came from a European exhibition, where the London Museum reportedly proposed a staggering $5,000 for his participation—equivalent to approximately $125,000 today. Despite the opportunity for fame and fortune, the farmer declined, preferring to remain in his quiet Missouri life.
Tapley wasn’t the only one in his community with an impressive beard—his neighbor, a judge, also had a formidable one measuring about six and a half feet. However, Tapley’s record-breaking facial hair overshadowed all others, and his name became a point of curiosity in newspapers of the time.
Despite his fame, he rarely spoke about his record and disliked media attention. He continued working on his farm well into old age, always being particularly cautious around open flames. By the time of his passing in 1910 at the age of 80, his beard had grown to over 11 feet long.
It wasn’t just a symbol of defiance—it became his legacy. Before his death, he even left instructions for his family, warning them to protect his remains from potential looters, ensuring that his legendary beard would remain untouched.
