(Steven D. Huelskamp/ Flickr/ CC BY-SA 2.0)
In feet: 8’11’
In cm: 2.72 cm
Biography
Full Name | Robert Pershing Wadlow |
---|---|
Date of Birth | February 22, 1918 |
Date of Death | July 15, 1940 |
Place of Birth | Alton, Illinois, USA |
Place of Death | Manistee, Michigan, USA |
Nationality | American |
Parents | Harold Franklin Wadlow (father) |
Addie Johnson Wadlow (mother) | |
Siblings | Two younger siblings (Helen and Harold Jr.) |
Education | Attended Alton High School and Shurtleff College |
Occupation | Known as the “Alton Giant” and a celebrity due to his extreme height |
Height | At his tallest, he measured 8 feet 11 inches (2.72 meters) |
Weight | At his heaviest, he weighed 490 pounds (222 kg) |
Notable Features | – Suffered from gigantism, a condition caused by an overproduction of growth hormone, which led to his extraordinary height. |
– He wore leg braces and used a cane to walk due to complications from his height. | |
Notable Achievements | – Recognized by the Guinness World Records as the tallest person in recorded history. |
– Toured with the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus as the “Alton Giant.” | |
Death | Robert Wadlow’s life was cut short at the age of 22 when he died from a leg brace-induced infection in his ankle, which he had sustained during a public appearance. |
Legacy | – Robert Wadlow’s life and extraordinary height continue to be a subject of interest and study. |
– His family donated his clothing and personal items to the Alton Museum of History and Art. | |
– Wadlow’s story has been featured in books, documentaries, and various media. |
Leave a Reply