Home > Figures > 10 Facts about Robert Wadlow
Facts about Robert Wadlow tell the readers about the famous Giant of Illinois. People also called him as the Alton Giant. He was born on 22 February 1918 and died on 15 July 1940. His full name was Robert Pershing Wadlow. The birthplace of Wadlow was located in Alton, Illinois. Wadlow was famous in the world due to his amazing height. There is no need to wonder that he was called as the tallest person in the recorded history. Let us find out other interesting facts about Wadlow below:
Facts about Robert Wadlow 1: the height of Wadlow
The height of Wadlow was measured at 2.72 meters or 8 feet and 11.1 inches. The weight of Wadlow was 220 kilogram and 490 lb.
Facts about Robert Wadlow 2: death
Wadlow died at a very young age. He was only 22 years old.
Facts about Robert Wadlow
Facts about Robert Wadlow 3: the growth of Wadlow
The hyperplasia on his pituitary gland made Wadlow grow higher and higher during his adult life. The human growth hormone produced by his body was abnormal. Therefore, he developed the greater size compared to the normal people. At the time of his death, there was no sign that his growth would be over. Instead, he kept growing at the time of his death.
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Facts about Robert Wadlow 4: parents
Wadlow's parents were Addie May and Harold Franklin. There were five kids in the family. He was the first one.
Facts about Robert Wadlow 5: Wadlow at the age of 8
When Wadlow was eight years old, his height surpassed the height of his father. Because of his bigger size, he needed a special desk put inside the room of his elementary school.
Robert Wadlow Facts
Facts about Robert Wadlow 6: the height during the high school
The height of Wadlow was measured at 2.54 metres or 8 feet 4 inches at time of his graduation of Alton High School. Wadlow had a dream to study law. Therefore, he entered Shurtleff College.
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Facts about Robert Wadlow 7: difficulty
Wadlow had his difficulty to walk due to his size. Therefore, he had to wear leg braces to support the legs. However, Wadlow did not need any wheelchair.
Facts about Robert Wadlow 8: a celebrity
Since Wadlow's height and condition was rare, he appeared as a celebrity in United States. He entered the Ringling Brothers Circus in the United States tour in 1936. He was also hired The International Shoe Company for a promotional tour in 1938. Wadlow got free shoes from the company. The examples of Wadlow's can be found in Snyder's Shoe Store.
Robert Wadlow Shoe
Facts about Robert Wadlow 9: health
However, Wadlow was strong. However, his health began to decline rapidly. Wadlow was noted as the tallest person ever by beating the record of John Rogan a year before his death. C. M. Charles and Cyril MacBryde of Washington University were the doctors who measured his height at 2.72 meter 18 days before his death.
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Facts about Robert Wadlow 10: infection
Wadlow died young at the age of 22 because of infection from the irritated braces on his ankle.
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