The real-life gentle giant

The Short-lived Story of the Tallest Human Who Ever Lived

The short-lived story of one tall man, Robert Wadlow.

Over the course of human history, people have always been attracted to the odd, unusual or weird. Also, with many unique people who have come and gone (or are still around) with rare or one-of-a-kind distinctions about them, the fascination still refuses to fade away. For some, it may be from a unique physical characteristic that they were born with, or an exceptional skill they either possessed naturally or had developed over time.

One such distinction that has provided endless fascination for many is individuals with unusual heights. Whether known for being unusually short or tall, people love to know more.

On the subject of extraordinary heights, the tallest man in recorded history has proven to be a particularly enthralling subject.

On February 22, 1918, in Alton, Illinois, Robert Pershing Wadlow was born a healthy 8.7 lbs to Harold Franklin and Addie May (neé Johnson) Wadlow, the first of five siblings.

Since he was young, his family had noticed how exceptional his height appeared.