Hans Langseth

Hans Nilson Langseth (July 14, 1846 – November 10, 1927) was a Norwegian-American who held the record for the world's longest beard.[1]

Hans Langseth
Hans Langseth c. 1912
Born(1846-07-14)July 14, 1846
Eidsvoll, Akershus, Norway
DiedNovember 10, 1927(1927-11-10) (aged 81)
Wyndmere, Richland County, North Dakota, United States
Burial placeElk Creek Church Cemetery
OccupationFarmer
Spouse(s)Anna Berntsen

Langseth was born in Eidsvoll in 1846 and immigrated to the United States in 1867. He married Anna Berntsen in 1870 and worked as a farmer in Elkton Township, Clay County, Minnesota. At age 19, he began growing a beard as part of a contest, and it is unclear if he won the contest.[2] In his later life, he traveled around the United States as part of a freak show showing off his beard.[3]

Langseth died aged 81 in Wyndmere, North Dakota and is buried in Elk Creek Church Cemetery in Kensett, Iowa.[4] When he died, his beard measured 5.33 meters (17.5 ft).[5] It was donated to the Department of Anthropology at the Smithsonian Institution in 1967.[6][7]

References
  1. "Longest beard – male". Guinness World Records. Retrieved January 20, 2016.
  2. "The longest beard in history is 17 feet 6 inches long and its proud owner ended up joining the circus". The Vintage News. March 12, 2018. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
  3. Parker, Mike (1983). The World's Most Fantastic Freaks. London: Octopus Publishing Group. p. 96.
  4. "Longest Whiskers". The Greene Recorder. November 23, 1927. p. 7. Retrieved January 21, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. Glendrange, Sølvi (November 12, 2003). "Rekord for rekordbok". Dagbladet (in Norwegian). Labrador CMS.
  6. Warren, Michael W.; Walsh-Haney, Heather A.; Freas, Laurel (May 9, 2008). "History and Collections of the Division of Physical Anthropology". In Hunt, David R. (ed.). The Forensic Anthropology Laboratory. Boca Raton, Florida: CRC Press. p. 155.
  7. "Are beards good for your health?". BBC News. January 20, 2016. Retrieved January 20, 2016.
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