Thomas Malthus (1766-1834), distinguished English professor, is the father of modern demography and the most famous harelip carrier of history. Much is known of his orofacial cleft but nothing regarding its mysterious surgical correction. An 1833 portrait of Malthus by John Linnell, finished when he considered himself "handsome enough," for sitting does not show any upper lip scar. When this surgery took place? Although technically feasible in the 19th century, surgery of cleft lip and palate was complicated. Malthus would not risk his life to have his orofacial disability corrected shortly before his death. Linnell cunningly dissimulated his deformity.
Keywords: craniofacial morphology; lip form; speech disorders; surgical technique.