Today’s edition of Things I Love Tuesday is a bit self-explanatory, at least judging from the title. I am a dork for history, and one of the side effects of this affliction is my tragic tendency to crush on men from the past. This is, I suppose, the epitome of unrequited love, second only to that other disorder, falling in love with fictional characters (a blog post in and of itself).
However, I’m not alone in this. My high school American History teacher, for example, used to talk at length about her undying love for former U.S. presidents John Adams and Teddy Roosevelt, and over the years, my friends have confided their own hidden attraction to prominent historical figures, both famous and infamous. The internet has helped to reinforce my silly crushes, especially blogs like My Daguerrotype Boyfriend and Hotties From History.
For fun, I offer a selection of my Top 4 Hot Men of History:
"Alexander Hamilton (1757-1804) in the Uniform of the New York Artillery" by Alonzo Chappel (1828-1887)
Number 4 on my list is Alexander Hamilton (1755-1804), also known as the gentleman whose face graces the United States’ ten dollar bill. He was a smarty pants, co-authoring the Federalist Papers with such luminaries as John Jay (the first chief justice of the Supreme Court) and James Madison (the 4th president of the U.S.). The Federalist Papers were a series of essays defending the American constitution, published during the Revolutionary War, and continue to be cited by constitutional lawyers and judges today.
Hamilton was also the country’s first Secretary of the Treasury. As part of his job, he helped to construct the Bank of the United States, the first central bank in the country’s history. He also helped to establish the national mint, which created a single currency for the whole country (as opposed to the hodgepodge of over 50 currencies being used in the latter part of the 1700s). I still haven’t quite forgiven Aaron Burr for killing Hamilton in a duel.
Yes, I hold grudges against historical figures. Don’t judge me.
Steel engraving by Samuel Hollyer from a lost daguerreotype by Gabriel Harrison. Used as frontispiece in 1855 (1st) edition of Leaves of Grass.
Perhaps American Revolutionary-era politicos are not your type. Poets, perhaps? Walt Whitman (1819-1892), number 3 on my list, is one of my favorite poets, though I cannot claim to love the giant beard that he sprouted later in life (actually, now that I look at it, he sort of reminds me of Gandalf the Grey, which makes him infinitely cooler than just “crazy old man with a beard”).
Whitman’s poetry, however, outweighs the grizzled beard. From the stirring lament of “O Captain! my Captain” to his praise for humanity and the body in “I Sing the Body Electric,” Whitman wrote in the voice of the common man, and was deeply steeped in the political and cultural concerns of the late 19th century. My favorite poem of his is “A Woman Waits for Me,” where the speaker expresses his love for all women. I love the fifth stanza:
They are not one jot less than I am,
They are tann’d in the face by shining suns and blowing winds,
Their flesh has the old divine suppleness and strength,
They know how to swim, row, ride, wrestle, shoot, run, strike, retreat, advance, resist, defend themselves,
They are ultimate in their own right—they are calm, clear, well-possess’d of themselves
That’s right, Whitman. Women are kick-ass and full of awesome.
According to Wikipedia, Whitman was also a regular correspondent with author Bram Stoker, and served as the model for Stoker’s Dracula. His vagrant lifestyle also influenced the Beat poets of the 1950s and 1960s, including Allan Ginsburg, who references Whitman in the opening of On the Road. Whitman also worked as a federal clerk in Washington, D.C., writing over 3000 documents during his career.
While we are on the topic of poets, I have to admit that I could never refuse Lord Byron (1788-1824), even though by all accounts, most women probably should have. Lady Caroline Lamb, one of his many conquests, famously described him as “Mad, bad, and dangerous to know.” He is recognized today as one of the first modern celebrities, a man who attained rockstar status during his own time for his excesses, love affairs, and scandals.
Still, I am a sucker for Byronic heroes. Who is better than the man who lends his name to the famed anti-heroes? Sure, he was a philandering womanizer, but this is one of the pros of loving men who have passed on — their days of heartbreaking are over. Such a reputation places him second on my list.
In addition to penning some beautiful poetry, Byron was also a celebrated war hero, fighting for the Greeks in their War of Independence, and acting as a leader of Italian revolutionaries during the early part of the 19th century. A lover and a fighter? Byron definitely earns points for versatility.
Frontispiece: Frederick Douglass, My Bondage and My Freedom. (1855)
At the top of my list, however, is Frederick Douglass (1818-1895), former slave and one of the foremost figures in the American abolitionist movement. I told a friend of mine not too long ago that to me, Frederick Douglass is the ultimate measure of a man. I also added that any potential partner of mine will have to stack up to Douglass’s qualities and talents. I was only partly joking (this is why I will probably be single for the rest of my life).
Douglass was, in a word, awe-inspiring. He escaped from slavery with the help of Anna Murray-Douglass, a free black woman who later became his wife. Later, he became an anti-slavery lecturer, traveling through the northern United States, Britain, and Ireland to discuss his experiences. He was both a powerful orator and writer. See his speech, “What to a slave is the 4th of July?“, for an example. In my opinion, it one of the best beautiful examples of American rhetoric.
In addition to championing the abolitionist movement, Douglass was also a proponent for women’s suffrage. He was the only African-American invited to the Seneca Falls convention, one of the first women’s rights conventions in the United States. His support of women’s rights would continue till his death, and his second wife, Helen Pitts-Douglass, was an active feminist.
Honorable Mentions
Robert Frost (1874-1963) is another of my favorite poets, and looked rather charming when he was younger, at least according to this portrait from 1910.
Credit: Library of Congress
Ulysses S. Grant (1822-1885) has the misfortune to be remembered as a president whose two terms in office (1869-1877) were marred by scandal, corruption, and economic turmoil, but he during the Civil War he built a reputation for himself as an excellent general and military tactician. He also wore a cowboy hat quite well, in my humble opinion, and had that rough, grizzled, rakish sort of look that I love.
General Ulysses S. Grant at his headquarters in Cold Harbor, Virginia, 1864
Anyone else ready to join my support group for people with crushes on the hot men and women of history? Which historical figures make your heart go pitter-patter?
September 6, 2011 at 6:32 am
Awesome list! I have to say I have quite the crush on John Keats, especially after watching Bright Star. His poetry is gorgeous and word has it he just had a real appetite for life. How could a gal resist? OK… and I will admit, in spite of the fact that he was dangerous, a womanizer and the worst kind of spoiled brat, I also have a bit of a crush on King Henry VIII… I have a thing for kings.
I completely support having crushes on historical figures. 😉
PS: And you should TOTALLY do a post on the fictional characters you’ve had/have crushes on!
September 6, 2011 at 8:44 pm
Ooooh, Bright Star has been sitting on my Netflix queue for months now! I started watching it a while back, but got distracted and told myself that I’d go back to it. Now I must rewatch. 😀
If Henry VIII and the real life members of his court looked like the actors in The Tudors, I would be ALL over them. Jonathan Rhys Meyers isn’t totally my type, but ohhhhhh, Henry Cavil. He is so tasty.
Maybe next Tuesday’s post will be fictional crush day!
September 6, 2011 at 11:42 pm
Love the post! Honestly, my big crush is on FDR…and I know that makes me crazy – he was sick after all! But, man, he did so much for the common man in the United States and he was passionate! I’m one of those girls that can look past the flaws on the outside if there is a hot enough fire burning on the inside! 😉
September 9, 2011 at 8:38 pm
A crush on FDR totally makes sense to me, especially because I have a fondness for men who are passionate about social issues. Great choice!
September 7, 2011 at 12:29 am
Jamila – I’ve just given you a blog award, check it out at mydemonspirits.blogspot.com
September 9, 2011 at 8:39 pm
Thanks so much!
September 7, 2011 at 8:11 am
Wow, awesome list. I’m crushing on them myself now haha. I’ve always been a huge Byron fan though so he’s probably near the top of my list as well.
September 9, 2011 at 8:39 pm
Gaaah, Byron is just ridiculous. It’s a little unfair how hot he was, too. :p
September 7, 2011 at 4:22 pm
I need to know more about history great post. Don’t know if I have nay historical crushes- at least non that could survive real historical facts 🙂
September 9, 2011 at 8:40 pm
Haha, there are a lot of guys I had to leave off of my list because knowledge of what they “really” did in life sort of turned me off.
Thanks for swinging by!
September 9, 2011 at 7:00 am
I think having a crush on a historical person might be better than my vice: huge crushes on fictional characters. At least yours are real, even if they’re dead.
September 9, 2011 at 8:45 pm
Ohhhhh, I totally harbor major crushes on fictional characters, so I know exactly what you mean. I think that is going to be the topic of next Tuesday’s post, so we can start a support group. 😉
September 9, 2011 at 2:31 pm
Oh, Jamila! You are not alone in your ‘crushing’…lol.
I have my share of historical crushes….we share Ulysses S. Grant. Confession time! I love Ronald Reagan. I always had a fascination with this former president. Since reading Peter Schweizer’s book, Reagan’s War, he may be biggest crush. I also have a thing for Cyrus the Persian – go figure – they say blood tells, guess it’s true…ha! I once posted on my blog that if Ramses (of the Ten Commandments) actually looked anything like the actor that played him, Yul Brenner, I’d have snatched him up in a heartbeat! (Stupid Nefretiri…Moses-Schmoses) Not excatly based on accomplishment…my crush came from seeing that particular man wear the heck out of an Egyptian man-skirt and sandals….Oh my! …Love this post ~ Nadja
September 9, 2011 at 8:46 pm
Reagan was SUCH a charismatic figure (I think I wrote a paper about him in 5th grade for some “US presidents” project), but I am glad to know that someone doesn’t think I’m crazy about Ulysses S. Grant. My friends keep giving me strange looks whenever I mention him.
Also, Yul Brenner was SUCH a hottie, and had such an amazingly powerful, commanding vibe that I love. And yeah, the man-skirt and sandals were pretty awesome.
Thank you so much for sharing!
September 11, 2011 at 7:58 pm
I’m waiting for the crushes on fictional characters. History was always interesting but never a passion for me, but I can definitely relate to fictional crushes.
September 11, 2011 at 9:29 pm
Awesome! The fictional character post should be up on Tuesday, if I can get it written in time. :p Can’t wait to hear what yours are!
January 20, 2013 at 1:59 pm
I have a major crush on Edward VI of England! He has been dead for 503 years… I would have loved to see him in person! But I know I will NEVER get the chance because I was born NOW! (Sigh) He was a great little king and I hope he is forever in gods loving hands. I LOVE YOU EDDY!!