What you might not know about the American author
Born into slavery in Maryland in 1818, Frederick Douglass managed to teach himself to read and write. After successfully escaping slavery, he authored the renowned autobiography 'Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave.' He dedicated his life to advocating for the abolition of slavery and women's suffrage. And he was handsome to boot!
Neferneferuaten Nefertiti was a queen and wife of Pharaoh Akhenaten (aka Amenhotep IV) in the 14th century BCE. Nefertiti's name means "a beautiful woman has come." She was made famous by the survival of her bust, pictured here, an enduring artifact from ancient times.
The Confederate soldier is notoriously remembered for his attempt to assassinate Secretary of State William Seward as part of the conspiracy to assassinate President Abraham Lincoln. However, he could equally have been noted for his remarkable good looks.
There are numerous depictions of the iconic ruler of Egypt in art, though they vary widely and we still don't have a clear idea of what she looked like. Either way, Cleopatra had the power to wrap Roman leaders Julius Caesar and Mark Antony around her little finger.
Among the array of attractive presidents that the United States has witnessed throughout its history, JFK stands out as potentially the most handsome. There is speculation that his good looks played a role in his electoral victory over Nixon.
The actress, also known as "The Jersey Lily," was famously pursued by the future King Edward VII, who was then the Prince of Wales. Despite her widespread fame and rumored associations with members of the royal family, her marriage to Sir Hugo Gerald de Bathe, 5th Baronet, was the closest she came to attaining a royal title.
Described by the Bishop of Salisbury as a "woman of great beauty," Palmer was courted by several notable men, including King Charles II.
Similar to numerous figures from ancient history, accurately depicting the appearance of Helen of Troy is a challenge. However, historical accounts consistently describe her as exceptionally beautiful, to the extent that she earned the title of "the most beautiful woman in the world" in Greek mythology.
The Irish poet W. B. Yeats referred to the English poet as "the most handsome young man in England." While the accolade might be somewhat extravagant, we do agree that he was very good-looking.
Also known as Evita, María Eva Duarte de Perón held roles as an actress, politician, and prominent celebrity. She also served as Argentina's First Lady. Revered as a style icon to this day, Eva Perón garnered immense affection from her nation's citizens, and undoubtedly possessed remarkable beauty!
The Japanese actor rose to fame as a prominent figure in Hollywood's silent film era. This Asian heartthrob's stardom, however, was regrettably overshadowed by other actors following the enforcement of the 1930 Production Code, which prohibited any portrayal of miscegenation, or interracial relationships.
The American boxer, also known as the Galveston Giant, will always be remembered for becoming the first African-American world heavyweight boxing champion. But don't forget his good looks!
The English novelist and poet, who was the eldest of the renowned Brontë sisters, was unquestionably a striking beauty.
The last Queen of France prior to the French Revolution was a woman of exceptional beauty. Sadly, her lovely head met the guillotine's blade when she was a mere 38 years old.
The renowned English poet was reportedly 5'8" (1.72 m) in height and at one point weighed 194 lbs (88 kg), which was quite a lot for his frame. It's also noted that Byron had a club foot and moved with a limp, although all of his portraits depicted him in the most favorable light. Byron was a master at shaping his public image long before the advent of Photoshop! Still, he was pretty handsome.
The renowned American inventor and entrepreneur was more commonly photographed in his later years, but how handsome was Edison as a young man, right?
Elisabeth, often referred to as Sisi, reportedly dedicated a significant amount of time to physical fitness. Her obsession with working out was well documented, and it seems that Emperor Franz Joseph couldn't help but be drawn to her athletic physique.
Not to mention, he was totally ripped.
The renowned magician and daring performer had the ability to free himself from chains, ropes, and straitjackets. However, his handsome appearance was something he couldn't escape!
The renowned Mexican revolutionary sported an elegant mustache and dressed in a notably dandy fashion for his era. Without a doubt, Zapata was a ruggedly handsome individual.
Aren't brooding musicians always heartbreakers?
Booth gained notoriety for his infamous assassination of President Abraham Lincoln at Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C., on April 14, 1865. However, Booth was more than a murderer. He was also an actor, and by the looks of it, quite a handsome one.
The German composer, pianist, and conductor possessed remarkable good looks. He undoubtedly left a trail of broken hearts behind when he relocated to Vienna, Austria.
In spite of his good looks and astounding achievements, Tesla chose to remain unmarried throughout his life in order to wholeheartedly commit himself to his work.
Renowned inventor Nikola Tesla achieved remarkable advancements in the realm of technology throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. His innovations spanned from the iconic Tesla Coil to the development of hydroelectric power systems.
However, historical accounts suggest that she possessed a waist measuring just 19.5 inches (49 cm), raising the possibility that she might have been underweight or even struggling with anorexia.
The Austrian composer, writer, editor, and socialite was a woman of considerable beauty.
Young Stalin really had it going on. Who'd have thought? By the time he grew his distinctive mustache later in life, things had started to go downhill in more ways than one.
Also known as Madame X, for posing for a portrait by John Singer Sargent of the same name (pictured), Virginie was a beautiful Parisian socialite.
Sure, we could easily include celebrity princesses like Diana, Princess of Wales, or even Grace Kelly, the actress who became the Princess of Monaco. But instead, we chose Princess Fawzia Fuad of Egypt, Princess Fawzia Fuad of Egypt, whose beauty could easily rival that of any Hollywood star.
Most of us know the author behind the 'Adventures of Huckleberry Finn' to have sported wild hair and a thick mustache. Though as a young man, Samuel Langhorne Clemens (later known as Mark Twain), looked pretty different!
Margaret E. Knight, a trailblazing female inventor born in 1838, left a lasting mark. With over 80 patents to her credit, she devised numerous innovations that are still in use today. Her first patented invention was a machine that makes paper bags and the essence of its design is still in use.
Davis Tutt, an Old West gambler, gained notoriety through a famous shootout with Wild Bill Hickok. His daring lifestyle and striking, wolf-like eyes might have held an allure for some, but tragically, he didn't even reach the age of 30.
Sources: (Grunge) (History Collection) (Ranker) (AskMen)
Giacomo Casanova was such a famous seducer that his name is still used to this day to describe a womanizer. Surely he had to look good, or how could he have swept so many women off their feet? Oh, and did we mention that he was incredibly intelligent, too?
The Dutch exotic dancer, who was convicted of being a spy for the Germans during WWI, drew huge audiences from across Europe. She certainly had that je ne sais quoi.
Attractive celebrities seem to be all around us, no matter where we turn. However, in the days before the internet and the widespread use of photography, how did we know what important public figures looked like? Fortunately, a few photographs and paintings have withstood the test of time, preserving their visual legacy.
Eager to see the most attractive individuals from history? Then click on!
Famous historical figures known for their beauty
Historical figures with amazingly good looks!
CELEBRITY History
Attractive celebrities seem to be all around us, no matter where we turn. However, in the days before the internet and the widespread use of photography, how did we know what important public figures looked like? Fortunately, a few photographs and paintings have withstood the test of time, preserving their visual legacy.
Eager to see the most attractive individuals from history? Then click on!