Hans Steininger
Wikimedia CommonsThe statue of Hans Steininger outside of St. Stephen’s Church in Austria.
As far as unusual deaths for politicans go, Hans Steininger should be at the top, if not number one.
He was a popular mayor of the small town of Braunau am Inn, Austria back in 1567. However, he is remembered for something completely different: his impressive facial hair. Unfortunately, the very thing he was most famous for would also be what killed him.
His beard stretched four and a half feet long. It hung from his chin down to his toes in a single tendril that had a forked tip. Most of the time, Steininger kept his beard tucked in his pocket so it didn’t get in the way. Usually, it worked — until one autumn night when a fire broke loose in his town.
Steininger quickly jumped into action amidst the chaos. During the commotion, his beard became untucked from his pocket. Steininger, though, was in crisis mode. He didn’t have time to tuck it back in.
This proved to be a dire mistake. When Steininger was standing at the top of a flight of stairs, he tripped on his beard and snapped his neck as he tumbled down.
Wikimedia CommonsHans Steininger’s beard on display.
The town was heartbroken over their beloved mayor’s death, so they erected a statue to honor him. In addition to memorializing him in stone, the town made sure that Steininger’s most prominent feature got the attention it deserved. They preserved his beard and put it on display in the town’s historical museum.
The beard has since amused facial hair aficionados for the past 450 years.
