Mutton for All!

So, it seems like I keep running into men whose most distinctive physical traits are their sideburns--more aptly described as "mutton chops."  By "running into," I really mean "come across in my perusal of literature, history, and literature depicting history."  Example: Gibbs from Pirates of the Caribbean (still not sure how I feel about Stranger Tides).  I am developing an unfortunate attachment to them.  I am probably more exposed to them due to my recent choices in literature, which is also influencing my recent choices in historical matters, but it is all moving in concentric circles at this point.  I still have no idea where the term "mutton chops" comes from, unless someone somewhere has some really ugly livestock.  I have, however, found some awesome chops.

Prince Albert was, more or less, the King of England, though lacking the title.  Maybe you've heard about him.  That Prince Albert in a can joke?  Yeah, that's where it gets its name.  There's another kind of Prince Albert that we won't talk about, though, due to its...inappropriate nature.  Back to the man, though.  He was a great leader, a fantastic non-philandering husband (did you know that "philander" starts with a "ph"?), a loving father, and a thoroughly modern man.  And, furthermore, he has great chops.  Just look at them!  Netflix recently added Young Victoria to the streaming list, and now I can't get enough reading on Victoria.  And with Victoria, comes Albert, the love of her life.  And with Albert comes facial hair.

Through my googling for mutton chops, one man kept resurfacing to a place of prominence--and with good reason.  Elisha Marshall has chops to the moon and more.  Just look at 'em!  About the only thing Wikipedia has on him is that he was a general for the Union Army out west.  Honestly, if this man is remembered for anything in the years to come, it will be his awesome heights of facial hair.

The term "side burn" supposedly comes from THIS man--Ambrose Burnside.  He was a soldier and a Rhode Island politician, and famous for his facial hair.  His chops are pretty off the charts.

This startling gentleman is Caspar David Friedrich.  He was a painter of landscapes.  It begs the question of why he allowed himself to be captured on canvas with such an odd expression on his face.  It looks like his left eyebrow is about to leap off of his face.  He did ensure, though, that his magnificent chops be recorded.  Good man.