Tallest man ever
- Who
- Robert Wadlow
- Where
- United States Alton, Illinois
- When
The tallest man in medical
history for whom there is irrefutable evidence is Robert Pershing Wadlow
(USA) (born 6:30 a.m. at Alton, Illinois, USA on 22 February 1918), who
when last measured on 27 June 1940, was found to be 2.72 m (8 ft 11.1
in) tall.
Wadlow died at 1:30 a.m. on 15 July 1940 in a hotel in Manistee, Michigan, as a result of a septic blister on his right ankle caused by a brace, which had been poorly fitted only a week earlier.
He was buried in Oakwood Cemetery, Alton in a coffin measuring 3.28 m (10 ft 9 in) long, 81 cm (32 in) wide and 76 cm (30 in) deep.
His greatest recorded weight was 222.71 kg (35 st 1l b) on his 21st birthday and he weighed 199 kg (31 st 5 lb) at the time of his death.
His shoe size was 37AA (47 cm (18.5 in) long) and his hands measured 32.4 cm (12.75 in) from the wrist to the tip of the middle finger.
He wore a size 25 ring.
His arm span was 2.88 m (9ft 5.75 in) and his peak daily food consumption was 8000 calories.
At the age of nine, he was able to carry his father Harold F. Wadlow (d. September 1967) later Mayor of Alton, who stood 1.8 m (5 ft 11 in) and weighed 77 kg (170 lb), up the stairs of the family home.
His last words were 'The doctor says I won't get home for the....celebrations' (a reference to his paternal grandparents golden wedding).
Main image via Alamy
For our 60th anniversary, we looked back over the years at the tallest man, from Robert Wadlow to Sultan Kosen (tallest living man at 8ft 3in). Archive footage, interviews with medical experts, celebrities and our very own editor explain how this category is one of our most iconic. We also talk to school children who give their take on the challenges faced with being the tallest man in the world.
video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=139&v=A4YdJNMugpk
Wadlow died at 1:30 a.m. on 15 July 1940 in a hotel in Manistee, Michigan, as a result of a septic blister on his right ankle caused by a brace, which had been poorly fitted only a week earlier.
He was buried in Oakwood Cemetery, Alton in a coffin measuring 3.28 m (10 ft 9 in) long, 81 cm (32 in) wide and 76 cm (30 in) deep.
His greatest recorded weight was 222.71 kg (35 st 1l b) on his 21st birthday and he weighed 199 kg (31 st 5 lb) at the time of his death.
His shoe size was 37AA (47 cm (18.5 in) long) and his hands measured 32.4 cm (12.75 in) from the wrist to the tip of the middle finger.
He wore a size 25 ring.
His arm span was 2.88 m (9ft 5.75 in) and his peak daily food consumption was 8000 calories.
At the age of nine, he was able to carry his father Harold F. Wadlow (d. September 1967) later Mayor of Alton, who stood 1.8 m (5 ft 11 in) and weighed 77 kg (170 lb), up the stairs of the family home.
His last words were 'The doctor says I won't get home for the....celebrations' (a reference to his paternal grandparents golden wedding).
Main image via Alamy
For our 60th anniversary, we looked back over the years at the tallest man, from Robert Wadlow to Sultan Kosen (tallest living man at 8ft 3in). Archive footage, interviews with medical experts, celebrities and our very own editor explain how this category is one of our most iconic. We also talk to school children who give their take on the challenges faced with being the tallest man in the world.
video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=139&v=A4YdJNMugpk
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