Beards were generally been out for British military men in the 1800s: civilians might have worn them as badges of masculinity, but in the army they were perhaps a bit too close to indiscipline for comfort.
Moustaches seem to have been acceptable though and were cultivated in various styles. The Darling forms a lush, inverted crescent around the upper lip. If it could speak it would probably have the gravelly timbre of a gruff, gouty squire.
This exhibition illustrates changes in beards, moustaches and sideburns from the 1780s to the 1980s.
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