Robert Wadlow

Robert Wadlow
Wadlow (left) with his father (who was 1.82 m (5 ft 11 1⁄2 in))
Born
Robert Pershing Wadlow

(1918-02-22)February 22, 1918
Alton, Illinois, U.S.
DiedJuly 15, 1940(1940-07-15) (aged 22)
Manistee, Michigan, U.S.[1]
Burial placeOakwood Cemetery, Alton, Illinois
Other names
  • The Gentle Giant
  • The Tallest Man Who Ever Lived
  • The Gentleman Giant
  • The Boy Giant
  • The Alton Giant
  • The Giant of Illinois
OccupationAdvertiser
Known forTallest verified human in recorded history
Height8 ft 11.1 in (272.0 cm)

Robert Pershing Wadlow (February 22, 1918 – July 15, 1940), also known as the Alton Giant and the Giant of Illinois, was an American man. He is the tallest person in recorded history for whom there is irrefutable evidence. Wadlow was born and raised in Alton, Illinois, a small city near St. Louis, Missouri.[1]

Wadlow's height was 8 ft 11.1 in (2.72 m)[2][3][4] while his weight reached 439 lb (199 kg) at his death at age 22. His great size and his continued growth in adulthood were due to hypertrophy of his pituitary gland, which results in an abnormally high level of human growth hormone (HGH).

  1. ^ a b "Robert Pershing Wadlow". Alton Museum of History and Art. Archived from the original on September 14, 2022. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Guinness was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ "World's Tallest Man". Worlds Largest Things Traveling Roadside Attraction. Retrieved May 14, 2018.
  4. ^ "Robert Wadlow, World's Tallest Man, Alton Illinois". Roadside America. Retrieved March 7, 2012.