Robert Wadlow (born February 22, 1918 – died on July 15, 1940) was a native of America. He was famously known as the Alton Giant and the Giant of Illinois.
According to the Guinness book of records, he was considered the tallest person in the world. In recorded history, there is obvious evidence. He was born and grew up in Alton, Illinois, a small city near St. Louis, Missouri.
He came into the limelight after his story came into the documentary named Did You Know?. It was made by Rene Aranda. Although, the series was released in the year 2020.
Contents
Wiki & Biography
His real full name was Robert Pershing Wadlow. At the time of his demise, Wadlow was just 22 years old. According to his date and month of birth, he possesses Aquarius as his zodiac sign. The tallest man holds American Nationality and believes in Christianity.
| Full Real Name | Robert Pershing Wadlow. |
| Profession | Student. |
| Age (As of 1940) | 22 years old. |
| Birthday | February 22, 1918. |
| Death Date | July 15, 1940. |
| Birth Place | The United States. |
| Ethnicity | Caucasian. |
| Gender | Male. |
| Sexuality | Straight. |
| Nationality | American. |
| Education | 1. Alton High School. 2. Shurtleff College. |
He was enrolled in a local elementary school, where a special desk was made for him. At the time of his graduation from Alton High School in the year 1936, Robert was 8 ft 4 in (254 cm). He later joined Shurtleff College with the intention of studying law.
Physical Appearance
Talking about the appearance of Wadlow he was measured at 8 ft 11.1 in (2.72 m) in height and weighed 439 lb (199 kg).
His enormous size and his continuous growth in adulthood were due to an excess of his pituitary gland, which results in an abnormally high level of human growth hormone (HGH).
Even by the time of his death, there was no evidence that his growth had stopped.
| Height | In Feet: 8 feet 11.1 inches. In meter: 2.72 meters. In Centimeter: 272 centimeters. |
| Weight | In Kilograms: 199 kg. In Pounds: 439 lbs. |
| Other Features | |
| Hair color | Black. |
| Face Shape | Oval. |
| Nose | pointed. |
| Lips | Wide-full. |
| Sexual Orientation | Straight. |
| Eye Color | Dark brown. |
Family & Ethnicity
Parents & Siblings
Wadlow was born in an American family in Alton, Illinois, on February 22, 1918, to his parents Harold Franklin (father) and Addie May Johnson Wadlow (mother).
He was the oldest of five children. At the age of 8 years he became taller than his father.
Death & Cause
During a professional appearance at the Manistee National Forest Festival, Robert’s legs became the main reason for his premature death, at the age of just 22 years old.
According to the reports, he died at 1:30 a.m. in his sleep on 15 July 1940 in a hotel in Manistee, Michigan.
A septic blister was found on his right ankle, which was caused by a brace. Moreover, he was treated with a blood transfusion and surgery, but his condition worsened due to an autoimmune disorder.
Moreover, his last words before the death were “The doctor states he won’t get back for the celebrations”, a mention of his paternal grandparents’ golden wedding.
He was then buried in Oakwood Cemetery, Alton, in a large coffin, which was measuring 3.28 m (10 ft 9 in) long, 81 cm (32 in) wide, and 76 cm (30 in) deep. The weight was over 1,000 lbs (450 kg) and was carried by twelve pallbearers and eight assistants.
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Some Lesser Known Facts About Robert Wadlow
- The tallest man required leg braces while walking. He had a slight feeling in his legs and feet. Although, he never used a wheelchair.
- A real-size statue of Robert was built opposite the Alton Museum of History and Art in the year 1986.
- After his 1936 U.S. tour with the Ringling Brothers Circus, Wadlow became a celebrity. They appeared at Madison Square Garden and the Boston Garden in the center ring.
- During his shows, he used to dressed up in his everyday clothes and denied the circus’s request of wearing a top hat and tails.
- He was also famous with the names, The Gentle Giant, The tallest man, The Boy Giant, The Illinois Giant, The Alton Giant, etc.
- Moreover, many documentaries were made on his size and life some of them are The Life and Death of Robert Wadlow (2015), Size Matters (2018), Extreme Bodies, Extraordinary Peoples, Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, Extraordinary Humans: Gigantism, History’s Mysteries.
- In the year 1938, he joined a promotional tour with the International Shoe Company, which used to provide his shoes free of charge. Moreover, his shoe size was 37AA.
- A singer named Sufjan Stevens also wrote and released a song titled “The Tallest Man, the Broadest Shoulders” in mentioning to the tallest man Robert Wadlow.
- At the time of his birth, he was 1 foot 8 inches (0.51 meters) and was weighed around 8 lbs.
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