(February 22, 1918 – July 15, 1940),

also known as the Alton Giant and the Giant of Illinois,

was an American who became famous as the tallest person ever

in human recorded history for whom there is irrefutable evidence.

The Alton and Illinois monikers reflect the fact that he was born

and raised in Alton, Illinois

Wadlow reached 8 ft 11.1 in (2.72 m) in height

and weighed 439 lb (199 kg) at his death at age 22.

His great size and his continued growth in adulthood were due to

hyperplasia of his pituitary gland,

which results in an abnormally high level of human growth hormone.

He showed no indication of an end to his growth even at the time of his death.

(February 16, 1865 – September 12, 1905)

was tallest person ever until being surpassed by Robert Wadlow.

Rogan, the son of William Rogan, a former slave, was born

in Hendersonville, Tennessee on February 16, 1865.

He was the fourth of twelve children.

He began to grow very rapidly at the age of 13 leading to ankylosis.

By 1882, he could not stand or walk at all.

By 1899, he had grown to a height of 8 ft 6 in (2.59 m)

and often appeared in newspapers, referred to as the "negro giant".

frequently referred to as Giant MacAskill or Black Angus

(1825 – August 8, 1863), was a Scottish-born Canadian giant.

The 1981 Guinness Book of World Records posits

Angus as the tallest non-pathological giant in recorded history

(7 ft 9 in, or 2.36 m), as well as being the man with the largest chest

measurements of any non-obese man (80 inches, or 200 cm).

(Latin: Gaius Julius Verus Maximinus Augustus;

c. 173 – May 238), also known as Maximinus I,

was Roman Emperor from 235 to 238.

According to historian Cordus, he was approximately 8 foot 6 inches

(2.5 m) tall, but exhibiting normal proportions(similar to Angus McAskill).