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Though collecting hair might appear odd, this unusual practice has become a valuable tool for modern historians utilizing DNA analysis. Examining hair has unveiled numerous historical revelations that would have remained hidden without disturbing the graves of the deceased. Beyond resolving lineage disputes, DNA has also shed light on the lives and deaths of renowned individuals. Here are 10 intriguing findings derived from the hair of famous personalities—and one mysterious creature.
10. Beethoven’s Health Struggles
The legendary composer endured more than his widely known hearing loss. His health issues were so debilitating that he requested doctors to investigate his ailments posthumously, which occurred at the age of 56. Beethoven often experienced severe stomach problems that went undiagnosed for centuries, potentially hindering his ability to compose at times.
Breakthroughs in understanding his condition came nearly two centuries later in 2023, when scientists analyzed DNA from preserved strands of Beethoven’s hair. This required an extensive amount—10 feet (3 meters) in total—with each strand meticulously cleaned for accurate analysis.
However, genetic testing showed that Beethoven’s predisposition to liver disease, exacerbated by his alcohol consumption, likely contributed to his poor health and possibly led to fatal liver failure. Researchers also identified hepatitis B in his system during his final months, though the exact cause of his deafness remains unresolved.
9. The Mystery Behind George III’s Madness
England’s most infamous mad king wasn’t always unstable—his erratic behavior occurred in episodes. During his reign from 1760 to 1820, he would sometimes ramble incoherently, attack members of his court, and experience hallucinations. Between these episodes, he was lucid enough to recognize his own madness, which often brought him to tears. The cause of his intermittent insanity remained unknown after his death, with theories ranging from psychosis to lead poisoning.
A 1969 theory proposed that the king suffered from porphyria, a rare genetic disorder identified in the 20th century. Porphyria can cause confusion, hallucinations, paranoia, and other mental health symptoms, but it stems from a deficiency in a compound within red blood cells. Only 10% of those with the genetic predisposition develop the condition, with triggers including stress, sunlight, and arsenic—the latter being particularly relevant in this case.
In 2005, analysis of the king’s preserved hair revealed high levels of lead and arsenic. Combined with the diagnosis of porphyria in some of his descendants, this offers a credible explanation for his illness. The arsenic, it turns out, was present in his prescribed medication, which ironically worsened his condition.
8. Eva Braun’s Jewish Heritage
In a twist of irony, Hitler may have unwittingly married someone of Jewish descent, as suggested by a 2014 British documentary series. Researchers analyzed hairs thought to belong to Braun, Hitler’s longtime companion and brief spouse. The hairs were sourced from a brush discovered in a monogrammed vanity case in Braun’s apartment, which was seized by an American intelligence officer post-war.
The genetic analysis indicated she carried a genome strongly linked to Ashkenazi Jews. Many Ashkenazi Jews in Europe had converted to Catholicism by the 19th century, which likely explains why neither Braun nor Hitler was aware of her lineage.
Although experts confirmed the authenticity of the hairbrush, the hairs’ origin couldn’t be definitively proven as Braun’s surviving relatives declined to provide DNA samples. Nevertheless, the evidence strongly suggests the hairs were hers, challenging the core of Hitler’s ideology of racial supremacy.
7. The Tragic Fate of King Louis XVII in Prison
King Louis XVII, the son of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, was the young heir to the French throne after his parents were executed during the French Revolution. At just eight years old, he was imprisoned by revolutionaries under horrific conditions and died of tuberculosis at the age of ten.
After his death, Louis’s heart was removed and preserved in the Saint-Denis cathedral. For years, rumors persisted that he had escaped captivity and fathered heirs to continue the royal lineage. Had this been proven true, it could have sparked civil unrest between royalists and republicans in France.
In 2004, DNA testing using a lock of Marie Antoinette’s hair and samples from the boy’s relatives confirmed the heart was indeed his, proving he died in prison. Exactly 209 years after his death, he received a proper burial, and his heart was interred in the royal crypt alongside his parents.
6. The Untimely Death of Elvis
While Elvis Presley’s death from a heart attack at 42 is well-documented, the underlying cause remained a mystery for decades. Many blamed his unhealthy lifestyle, particularly his overeating, but later evidence revealed this wasn’t the sole factor.
DNA analysis of what was believed to be Elvis’s hair, obtained from a friend of his barber, revealed a mutation associated with migraines, glaucoma, and obesity. These findings align with Elvis’s known struggles with headaches, poor eyesight, and weight gain. Additionally, a more serious mutation linked to heart muscle disease, which causes thickening and weakening of the heart, was identified.
Experts determined that while Elvis’s lifestyle contributed to his health issues, it was likely genetic mutations that ultimately led to the demise of the 20th-century icon.
5. Salvador Dali’s Alleged Daughter
At the time of his death in 1989, the eccentric surrealist painter Salvador Dali had no children, leaving his fortune to the state and his wife’s foundation. Nearly two decades later, Pilar Abel, a tarot-card reader, claimed to be Dali’s daughter, which would entitle her to a quarter of his estate. The foundation managing Dali’s wealth was understandably doubtful.
Abel based her claim on her grandmother’s assertion that her presumed father was not her biological parent and that her real father was a famous artist. She also pointed to her physical resemblance to Dali, minus his iconic mustache.
In 2017, a judge found potential validity in Abel’s claims and ordered the exhumation of Dali’s body for DNA analysis. Samples were collected from his hair, nails, and bones, though it remains unclear if the hair included his iconic mustache. The embalmer confirmed the mustache remained intact decades later. Ultimately, the results disproved Pilar Abel’s claim of being Dali’s daughter.
4. Living Descendants of Sitting Bull
While DNA testing is commonly used for paternity cases involving the living or recently deceased, 2021 marked a historic milestone when it was used to connect a living individual to a long-deceased ancestor. Ernie LaPointe of South Dakota had long believed he was the great-grandson of Sitting Bull, the renowned Native American leader celebrated for his triumph at the Battle of Little Bighorn. However, many doubted LaPointe’s assertion.
The journey to confirming his lineage began 14 years prior when the Smithsonian Museum provided him with strands of Sitting Bull’s hair. A Cambridge University scientist, intrigued by the story, reached out to assist. The hair, stored at room temperature for years, had degraded, making DNA extraction a significant challenge.
The generational gap added complexity, as existing DNA analysis techniques only worked up to the grandchildren’s level. After 14 years of research, scientists successfully confirmed LaPointe’s ancestry using a novel autosomal DNA method, which requires minimal DNA and is not gender-specific.
3. The Truth Behind the Yeti
Yetis, often called abominable snowmen, are described as large, hairy, human-like beings rumored to inhabit the Himalayas. Western interest in these creatures surged after Eric Shipton captured photographs of massive footprints in 1951. The legend is believed to stem from tales told to deter Nepalese children from venturing into the wilderness or from accounts of a Buddhist monk who lived near Mount Everest 350 years ago, allegedly aided by yetis who brought him supplies.
Since the 1950s, various yeti artifacts, such as hair, bones, skin, and feces, have been gathered, despite no verified sightings. In 2016, a team of scientists analyzed these items for a documentary. While maintaining an open mind, they effectively dispelled the myth by studying mitochondrial DNA from the samples.
The analysis revealed that the artifacts originated from Himalayan brown bears and Asian black bears. A 2014 genetic study of hair samples also linked some to polar bears and dogs. Although the yeti remains a myth, the research provided valuable insights into the endangered bear species of the Himalayas.
2. The Mystery of Charles Darwin’s Illness
The renowned bearded biologist’s facial hair helped unravel the mystery of his lifelong ailments after 130 years. Darwin endured stomach issues, diarrhea, skin conditions, heart problems, fatigue, vomiting, and headaches throughout his life. Despite consultations with 18 doctors, the cause remained unidentified and untreated.
Some historians speculated he contracted a tropical disease during his travels, while others believed he was poisoned. Both theories were debunked in 2014 when Darwin’s great-great-grandson permitted DNA testing on two strands of the scientist’s beard hair.
The analysis revealed Darwin suffered from Crohn’s Disease, a condition unknown during his lifetime. The DNA also provided insights into his genetic traits, including baldness, a propensity for thrill-seeking, and enhanced memory—all characteristics Darwin was said to exhibit.
1. The Discovery of the Romanovs’ Burial Site
In 1991, nine skeletons were unearthed in a pit in Ekaterinburg, Russia. Experts hypothesized they belonged to Tsar Nicholas II, Tsarina Alexandra, three of their children, a doctor, and three servants, all murdered by the Bolsheviks in 1918. However, conclusive evidence was needed to confirm the remains were those of the Romanovs, Russia’s last imperial family.
By 1993, advancements in DNA analysis provided a breakthrough, and bone samples were sent to Britain for testing. The choice of location was strategic, as a crucial piece of evidence was a hair sample from the Duke of Edinburgh. His maternal grandmother, Princess Victoria of Hesse, was the sister of Tsarina Alexandra.
Prince Philip contributed blood and hair samples, alongside two Romanov descendants. Mitochondrial DNA, inherited maternally, showed an exact match between the duke, the tsarina, and her three daughters. Scientists concluded with 98.5% certainty that the remains belonged to the Romanovs, allowing historians to definitively resolve the mystery of their tragic fate.
