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Second-guessing that Taz tattoo on your ankle? Fear not! You're treading the same path as some of history's most remarkable individuals.
1. THOMAS EDISON
Tattoos might never have gained popularity without Edison’s groundbreaking “electric pen,” which laid the foundation for the modern tattoo machine. Appropriately, he bore a quincunx, a five-dot geometric design, on his forearm.
2. GEORGE ORWELL
The writer of 1984 also had his share of ink. Bright blue dots adorned his knuckles, a mark of youthful defiance during his time as a colonial police officer in Burma.
3. JAMES K. POLK
The 11th U.S. president, known for annexing Texas, also left a lasting mark in tattoo history. He popularized Chinese-character tattoos, with his own supposedly meaning “eager,” or so he believed.
4. OLIVER HARDY
The sturdier half of the Laurel and Hardy pair showcased a maple leaf tattoo on his right arm, a souvenir from his 14th year. His mother’s fury over this teenage act of rebellion was so intense that she allegedly confronted the tattoo artist.
5. ANDREW JACKSON
Known for his fiery temper, Jackson rarely forgave his enemies, yet he bore a tomahawk tattoo on his inner thigh as a permanent mark.
6. DOROTHY PARKER
The witty and acerbic writer carried a tiny blue star near her elbow, a keepsake from a boozy evening in the 1930s.
7. WINSTON CHURCHILL
As of 2012, the U.K. boasts the highest rate of tattooed citizens globally, a tradition with deep roots. Even Churchill had his share of ink, sporting an anchor tattoo on his forearm.
8. BARRY GOLDWATER
The long-serving senator, Barry “Mr. Conservative” Goldwater, had a crescent moon and four dots inked on his hand, symbolizing the Smoki People, an Arizona group committed to preserving Native American heritage.
9. CZAR NICHOLAS II
During his 1891 visit to Japan to strengthen Russo-Japanese ties, Czar Nicholas II not only survived an assassination attempt but also returned with a unique memento: a vibrant dragon tattoo on his right arm.
10. KING HAROLD II
Royal tattoos have a longer history than many realize. Following his defeat at the Battle of Hastings in 1066, England’s Harold II was identified by his tattoos, which included his wife’s name, Edith, etched over his heart.
This article originally appeared in mental_floss magazine.
