A Phenotype of Historical Proportions

I thought it would be best to start off by mentioning some of the most influential redheads throughout history.  We hear these names frequently but rarely do we hear about their beautiful red locks of hair.

Red heads have had a large impact on civilization.  Not surprising, the European continent has seen the greatest shaping at the hands of redheads.  Napoleon's redheaded temper took over most of the continent and changed its structure of government.  Winston Churchill helped ensure a lederhosen free England and Lenin gave us a wonderful story about animals living on a farm.

Christopher Columbus' redheaded stubbornness had him convinced he found India.  The ginger romantic, Vincent Van Gogh, ensured he would always listen to his lover.  Mark Twain gave us Huck Finn and the jumping frog of Calaveras County.  Emily Dickinson proved there is more to redheaded women than the lustful stereotype.  Galileo is everybody's favorite part of Bohemian Rhapsody.

What is 7 out of 44?  That's right, the number of US Presidents that respond to carrot top.  If you don't believe count them out: Martin Van Buren, Calvin Coolidge, Dwight Eisenhower, Ulysses S. Grant, Andrew Jackson, Thomas Jefferson, and George Washington.  How cool is it that the father of our country is a redhead?  Now if we just knew the mother we could bust out a Punnett square and answer the age old question... Is America a redhead?