"Alexander the Great thought that the beards of the soldiery afforded convenient handles for the enemy to lay hold of, preparatory to cutting off their heads; and, with a view of depriving them of this advantage, he ordered the whole of his army to be closely shaven."
-- Charles Mackay, "Influence of Politics and Religion on the Hair and Beard", in _Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds_ (2nd ed., 1852)

There is a good deal of other curious information in that little chapter -- indeed, in the entire book, which is available online at
http://www.econlib.org/library/Mackay/macEx.html

I have had my beard since 1965, without interruption.

Let me close with the advice in Samuel Butler's _Hudibras_, with which that chapter opens:

...Speak with respect and honour
Both of the beard and the beard's owner.