(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. |
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