John Rogan

John William Rogan (February 16, 1865 – September 12, 1905) was an American notable as one of 17 known people in recorded and verified medical history to reach a height of 8 feet (2.44 m) or more and also reaching the title of tallest person ever in human history until surpassed by fellow American Robert Wadlow.

Biography

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. The identity of his birth mother remains unknown. He began to grow very rapidly at the age of 13, leading to ankylosis. Already accustomed to walking only with the aid of crutches, 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". He got around on a cart he had made for himself that was pulled by goats, and he was always the center of attention, often noted for his deep voice and playful attitude. Although he was unable to perform physical labor, he made a living by selling portraits and postcards of himself at the train station and, as noted in an 1897 article in the Kansas City Journal, had a number of his drawings published. Despite his success in this regard, he declined all offers to join the carnival and side shows. Shortly before he developed ankylosis, he was 8 feet 6 inches (2.59 m) tall and weighed 300 lb (140 kg). It hindered and eventually ended his ability to walk, eventually prompting the use of the goat cart.

Rogan's hands measured 11 inches (28 cm) in length and his feet measured 13 inches (33 cm) in length. He continued to grow until his death; his exact height was not measured until after his death. At that time he measured 8 ft 9 in (2.67m) tall but weighed only 230 pounds (104 kg), making him the tallest person of African descent, and the tallest person ever recorded until Robert Wadlow overtook him in 1940. Rogan remains the second-tallest person on record.

Rogan died on September 12, 1905 from complications of ankylosis. He was buried in the family yard under solid concrete to prevent anyone from exhuming and examining his body.