©

Getty Images

Mata Hari -

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.

©

Getty Images

Lord Byron -

The famous English poet was apparently 5'8" (1.72 m) tall, and at one point weighted 194 lbs (88 kg), which was quite a lot for his frame. Byron is also said to have had a club foot and walk with a limp, but all his portraits show his best side. Byron was a master of manipulating his public image way before Photoshop! Still, he was pretty handsome.

©

Getty Images

Empress Elisabeth of Austria -

Elisabeth (also known as Sisi) is said to have spent a lot of time working out. Elisabeth was really into fitness and, by the looks of it, Emperor Franz Joseph couldn't resist her athletic frame. Though her said 19.5-inch (49 cm) waist hints that she might have suffered from anorexia.

©

Getty Images

Thomas Edison -

The famous American inventor and businessman is usually depicted at an older age, but how handsome was Edison as a young man, right?

©

Getty Images

Marie Antoinette -

The last Queen of France before the French Revolution was a woman of incredible beauty. But her beautiful head rolled under the guillotine when she was just 38.

©

Getty Images

Harry Houdini -

The famous illusionist and stunt performer could escape chains, ropes, and straitjackets. But he surely couldn't escape his good looks!

©

Getty Images

Charlotte Brontë -

The English novelist and poet, who was also the eldest of the famed Brontë sisters, was definitely a stunner.

©

Getty Images

Jack Johnson -

The American boxer, also known as the Galveston Giant, goes down in history for becoming the first African-American world heavyweight boxing champion. But don't forget his good looks!

©

Getty Images

Eva Perón -

Also known as Evita, María Eva Duarte de Perón was an actress, politician, and overall celebrity, who also served as First Lady of Argentina. Considered a style icon to this day, Eva Perón was much loved by the people of her country, and was certainly a looker!

©

Getty Images

Emiliano Zapata -

The famous Mexican revolutionary rocked a stylish moustache and dressed in a pretty dandyish way for the time. Indeed, Zapata was a rugged, handsome man.

©

Getty Images

Helen of Troy -

Like other ancient historical figures, it's hard to describe how Helen of Troy actually looked. Though she's described as very, very attractive. To the point of being labeled "the most beautiful woman in the world" in Greek mythology.

©

Getty Images

Johannes Brahms -

The German composer, pianist, and conductor was a very good-looking man. He surely must have broken some hearts when he moved to Vienna, Austria.

©

Getty Images

Gayatri Devi -

The Indian princess was gorgeous. So much so that  Vogue once named her "one of the most beautiful women in the world." But Devi was not just a pretty face—she was also quite avant-garde for the time, championing things such as equal rights.

©

Public Domain

Giacomo Casanova -

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, otherwise how would he sweep so many women off their feet? Oh, and did we mention that he was incredibly intelligent, too?

©

Getty Images

Virginie Amélie Avegno Gautreau -

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.

©

Public Domain

Mark Twain -

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 did look quite different.

©

Public Domain

Princess Fawzia Fuad of Egypt -

Sure, we could well list celebrity princesses such as Diana, Princess of Wales or even actress-turned-Princess of Monaco Grace Kelly on this list. But instead, we chose Princess Fawzia Fuad of Egypt, whose looks could pretty much rival any Hollywood star.

©

Public Domain

Sessue Hayakawa -

The Japanese actor was a movie star during the silent film era in Hollywood. The Asian heartthrob was sadly replaced by other actors when the 1930 Production Code banned any depictions of miscegenation, or interracial relationships.

©

Getty Images

Lillie Langtry -

The actress, also known as "The Jersey Lily," was famously pursued by the then-Prince of Wales (future King Edward VII). But despite her fame and alleged relationships with royals, the closest she got to a royal title was through her marriage to Sir Hugo Gerald de Bathe, 5th Bt.

©

Getty Images

Rupert Brooke -

The English poet was described by Irish poet W. B. Yeats as "the handsomest young man in England." While the title might be a bit grand, we do agree that he was very attractive.

©

Getty Images

Barbara Palmer -

Described by the Bishop of Salisbury as a "woman of great beauty," Palmer was romantically involved with a few high-profile men, including King Charles II.

©

Getty Images

John F. Kennedy -

Of the many handsome presidents the US has had over the years, JFK is perhaps the hottest one in the history books. It has been suggested that his looks did help him get elected against Nixon.

©

Getty Images

Alma Mahler -

The Austrian composer, author, editor, and socialite was also a very attractive woman.

©

Getty Images

Nefertiti -

Neferneferuaten Nefertiti was a queen and wife of Pharaoh Akhenaten (aka Amenhotep IV) in the 14th century BCE. Nefertiti, whose name translates to "a beautiful woman has come," is mostly famous for this bust, which has survived to this day.

©

Getty Images

John Wilkes Booth -

Booth infamously assassinated President Abraham Lincoln at Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C., on April 14, 1865. Booth was not just a murderer though. He was an actor too, and a handsome one, it seems.

©

Getty Images

Lewis Powell -

The Confederate soldier is infamously known to have tried to assassinate Secretary of State William Seward as part of the President Abraham Lincoln assassination plot. Though he could well also been known for his striking good looks.

©

Getty Images

Cleopatra -

There are numerous depictions of the iconic ruler of Egypt in art, though none exactly gives a clear picture of what she looked like. Either way, Cleopatra was hot enough to impress Roman leaders Julius Caesar and Mark Antony.

Sources: (Grunge) (Ranker) (AskMen)

See also: Unexpected things that are weirdly attractive

©

Getty Images