Screen grabRobert Wadlow and his family.
The world's tallest man was 3 feet tall as a toddler, could carry his father at age 9, and stretched to a fantastic height of 8 feet 11 inches. In honor of his birthday, this is the incredible life of Robert Wadlow, whose hands measured a foot long and whose arms spanned 9 feet 5 inches.
Robert Pershing Wadlow was born on February 22, 1918, and weighed a healthy 8 pounds 6 ounces. Soon after his birth, he began to grow at an astounding rate. In this photo, 6-month-old Wadlow weighed 30 pounds, about twice the normal weight for his age.
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As a kindergartner, 5-year-old Wadlow wore clothes intended for a 17-year-old. Three years later, Wadlow towered at a height of 6 feet 2 inches and weighed nearly 200 pounds. By the time he was 10, Wadlow weighed 210 pounds and wore a size 17.5 shoe.
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Eventually, his shoe size grew to size 37, and each pair cost $100.
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At age 12, Wadlow learned that he had a hyperactive pituitary gland that caused his incredible growth. In this photo, world heavyweight champion Primo Carnera playfully punches Wadlow, then 6-foot-11.
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When Wadlow was a 13-year-old Boy Scout, his uniform, sleeping bag, and tent were all modified, according to Scouting Magazine. Wadlow consumed five times the normal caloric intake for his age.
Source: Scouting Magazine
Wadlow was the oldest of five children. Here's Wadlow on his 17th birthday with his two younger brothers.
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All of Wadlow's relatives were of normal weight and stature. Here's a family photo from 1935.
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As a young man, Wadlow's custom-made clothes required as much as three times the amount of cloth. Here's Wadlow being measured for a suit jacket for his 8-foot-3 stature.
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As a 19-year-old, Wadlow stretched to a height of 8 feet 7 inches and officially became the tallest man in the world.
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Known as a "gentle giant," Wadlow earned money from national public appearances. When asked in a radio interview whether he was annoyed when people stared at him, he calmly replied, "No, I just overlook them."
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On July 15, 1940, Wadlow died in his sleep after his foot became infected. He was 22, weighed 490 pounds, and was 8 feet 11 inches tall.
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Wadlow's 1,000-pound casket required 18 pallbearers and was carried to his final resting place in his hometown of Alton, Illinois. Wadlow's family decided to destroy most of his belongings for fear that his personal effects would be collected and displayed as "freak" memorabilia.
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