Robert Pershing Wadlow was born 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.
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 tall and weighed nearly 200 pounds. Here's Wadlow's height and weight plotted alongside the CDC's growth chart for healthy males aged 2 to 20 years old.
By the time he was 10 years old, Wadlow weighed 210 pounds, was more than 6 feet tall, and wore a size 17.5 shoe.
Eventually his shoe size grew to size 37; each pair cost $100.
At age 12, Wadlow learned he had a hyperactive pituitary gland that caused his incredible growth. In this photo, world heavyweight champion Primo Carnera playfully punches a then 6-foot-11 Wadlow.
As a 13-year-old Boy Scout, Wadlow's uniform, sleeping bag, and tent were all modified, according to Scouting Magazine. Wadlow consumed five times the normal caloric intake for his age.
Wadlow was the oldest of five children. Here's Wadlow on his 17th birthday with his two younger brothers.
All of Wadlow's relatives were of normal weight and stature. Here's a family photo in 1935.
As a young man, Wadlow's custom-made clothes required three times the amount of cloth. Here's Wadlow being measured for a suit jacket for his 8-foot-3-inch stature.
As a 19-year-old, Wadlow stretched to a height of 8 feet 7 inches and officially became the tallest man in the world.
Known as a "Gentle Giant," Wadlow earned money from national public appearances. When asked in a radio interview if he was annoyed when people stared at him, he calmly replied, "No, I just overlook them."
On July 15, 1940, Wadlow died in his sleep after suffering from an infection in his foot. He was 22 years old, weighed 490 pounds, and was 8 feet 11 inches tall.
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.
