Robert Wadlow was the world’s tallest man in recorded history. He was born in Alton, Illinois, on February 22, 1918, to Harold Franklin and Addie May Wadlow and was the oldest of five children. He was often nicknamed Alton Giant or the Giant of Illinois. His condition was diagnosed as hyperplasia of the pituitary gland, a condition characterized by rapid and excessive growth resulting from abnormally high levels of human growth hormones.
He was already 1.05 m (1.05 ft) tall when Robert turned one. After turning 5, he had to wear clothes made for 17-year-olds because he stood 5 feet 4 inches (1.63 meters) tall. Three years later, the man who would become the tallest man in the world outgrew and outweighed his father, towering at the height of 6 ft 2 in (1.87 m) and weighing 200 pounds (90 kg). By the time of his graduation from Alton High School in 1936, he was 8 ft 4 in (2.54 m). He continued to grow and ultimately reached a height of 8 ft 11 in (2.72 m) when he died at 22.
Although he was extremely tall, his family and parents made an effort to make his life as normal as possible. Wadlow was known as a gentle giant because he was quiet and mild-mannered. As a child, he needed leg braces when walking and had little feeling in his legs and feet. The schools made special desks for him, with wooden blocks on the bottom so he would not hunch over in class. Wadlow’s father had to modify the family’s car to travel the country. His son could stretch his legs in the back seat while sitting in the front passenger seat. He enjoyed photography and playing the guitar until his hands grew too large to do either.
Wadlow became a celebrity after touring with the Ringling Brothers Circus in the United States in 1936, performing in the centre ring at Madison Square Garden and the Boston Garden (never in the sideshow). The circus had requested that he wear a top hat and tails during his appearances, but he refused to wear them. He then began a promotional tour for the International Shoe Company, which provided free footwear, again only in his everyday street clothes. Wadlow saw himself as an advertising professional, not an exhibitor. He possessed great physical strength until the last few days of his life.
On July 4, 1940, while performing at the Manistee National Forest Festival, a faulty brace caused an infection in his ankle, resulting in his death. After undergoing a blood transfusion and surgery, his condition worsened due to an autoimmune disorder; he died in his sleep on July 15, 1940. He was buried in a coffin that measured 10 ft 9 in (3.28 m) long by 2 ft 8 in (0.81 m) wide by 2 ft 6 in (0.76 m) deep, weighed over 1,000 lb (450 kg), and was carried by twelve pallbearers and eight assistants. A life-size statue of Wadlow was erected opposite the Alton Museum of History and Art in 1986. Below are some historical photos of Robert Wadlow.
