Robert Wadlow - the tallest man in the world

Throughout history, mankind has always struck numerous stories and legends about mythical giants, people or deities that have reached incredible proportions. Although most of them are nothing more than legends, for example Goliath, the king of the OG or the Titans. Some of these myths are based on real facts. There are many records of incredibly high people who lived in the past. Although some of them are highly exaggerated, many still rely on solid evidence. Robert Pershing Wadlow, also known as the Elton giant, was the tallest man in human history.

Robert Wadlow: Biography

An unusual person was born, like all other children, but later became famous throughout the world due to his unusual illness. Robert Pershing Wadlow was born, educated and buried in Alton, Illinois. He is known as the tallest man in history, due to his growth in the Guinness Book of Records. At birth, Robert weighed 3.6 kg. He attracted attention when in six months his weight reached 30 kilograms. A year later, at 18 months, he weighed 62 kilograms. He continued to grow at an astonishingly rapid pace, reaching 183 cm and 88 kg when he was eight years old.

His second name, Pershing, he received in honor of the general, who took part in the First World War. Robert was the first child of his parents, Addy and Harold. Later, two sisters appeared in the family, Helen and Betty, and two brothers, Eugene and Harold Jr.. And all, except for Robert, were normal height and weight. Trying to lead a normal life, Robert enjoyed the collection of stamps and photographs.

He managed to become the highest scout in the world, having a height of 2.14 m at the age of 13. At the age of 18 he reached 2.45 meters in height and weighed 190 kilograms. To sew his clothes, he needed three times as much fabric, and his huge size was worth about $ 100 per pair. When he was 20 years old, Robert was a representative of the shoe company, having visited more than 800 cities and 41 countries. His father had to modify the family car, removing the front passenger seat so that Robert could comfortably sit on the back and pull out his long legs. The team of father and son overcame more than 300,000 km during their goodwill tour for the shoe company. Robert was very fond of his mother Addy, for which he received the nickname "gentle giant."

Unrealistic dimensions

Robert Wadlow was born on February 22, 1918 in the American city of Alton. According to the latest measurements (27.06.1940) it was found that the growth of this giant reached a mark of 2.72 meters. Death came to him on July 15, 1940 at a hotel in Manistee , Michigan. He died at the age of 22 as a result of a purulent infection on his right ankle. His maximum recorded weight was more than 222 kilograms, and at 21 years his weight reached 199 kg. His shoe size was 37AA (47 cm), the length of the palm was 32.4 cm. Robert wore a ring of the 25th size. The range of arms reached 2.88 m, and its peak daily diet included about 8,000 kcal. At the age of 9, this mighty and tall sturdy man could take Harold Wadlow, his father, whose height was 1.8 meters, and weight 77 kg, and raise it up the stairs of the parental home.

Abnormal hypertrophy

Robert Wadlow, whose growth not only reached huge dimensions, by human standards, but also continued to increase in adulthood, suffered from hypertrophy of the pituitary gland, which led to an abnormally high level of human growth hormone. The giant continued to grow until his death. Large dimensions adversely affected health: he had to walk, leaning on a cane, as his legs and feet ached. Despite this, Robert Wadlow was never chained to a wheelchair. At one time he was among the most popular American celebrities. The American tour with the circus of the Ringling brothers in 1936 brought him wide popularity. He took part in various excursions and numerous public appearances.

The untimely death of the giant

July 4, 1940, during his professional performance at the national forest festival, a poorly fixed bandage strongly rubbed Robert's ankles, causing purulent blisters, which eventually led to the infection of wounds. An urgent operation and blood transfusion was performed, but it was not possible to save him. His condition worsened, and on July 15, 1940, he died in a dream. He was only 22. About 40,000 people took part in the funeral that took place on July 19. He was buried in a coffin that weighed half a ton. It took 12 porters to carry it. Robert Wadlow, the tallest man in the world, was buried in a crypt of monolithic concrete.

The giant managed to leave its mark for the descendants

In 1985, a bronze statue of Robert Wadlow in full size was erected at the University of Southern Illinois, at the Edwardville School of Dentistry. In full growth it can be seen also among other incredible exhibits in the world famous Guinness World Records Hall at the Empire State Building in New York.