Beards of History

Cited as the first light picture ever taken, Robert Cornelius took a self-portrait, Oct. or Nov. 1839 This self-portrait is the first photographic portrait image of a human ever produced.  Cornelius seems to be sporting the "chin curtain" beard.

Edward Teach (c. 1680 – 22 November 1718), better known as Blackbeard, was a notorious English pirate who operated around the West Indies and the eastern coast of the American colonies during the early 18th century.  His cognomen, Blackbeard, was derived from his thick black beard and fearsome appearance; he was reported to have tied lit fuses under his hat to frighten his enemies.