Feodor Machnow
Encyclopedia
Feodor Machnow, was born in 1878 at the village of Kasciuki near Viciebsk (now Belarus
). Though exact details concerning his birth and real height are uncertain, Machnow eventually grew to a stature of 7-ft-10 inches (2.39m) and a weight of 365 lbs.
As a young man in his twenties he toured Europe
to exhibit his great height. After having spent time in Berlin
he visited London
in 1905 where he joined the Hippodrome accompanied by his wife and young child. He then toured the United States
in 1906 where he met President Roosevelt
. Throughout his tour his promoters exaggerated his height, and he is usually accredited with a stature of 9-feet-3 inches (2.82m) and billed as "The Russian Giant." On the obelisk it is still possible to read: «Фёдор Андреевич Махнов. Родился 6 июня 1878 года. Умер 28 августа 1912 года. Самый высокий человек в мире. Ростом был 3 аршина 9 вершков» ("Feodor Machnow. Born June 6, 1878. Died August 28, 1912. Tallest man in the world. He was 254 centimetres tall"). This index was taken from a 16-year old Feodor contract. But after 16 years of Feodor Machnow continued to grow, and added 31 cm, reaching 282 cm. Giant's wife, Efrosinja wanted to correct the incorrect figure on the monument, but was prevented from doing so because of the beginning of the First World War
and then the Revolution. Unfortunately Machnow's wife could not verify this version. This exaggeration may have been because he wore a huge Cossack
fur hat, and tall boots which added a foot to his height. Although, if this was accurate, he would have been taller than Robert Wadlow
.
Machnow died in the year 1912 due to pneumonia
and likely complications of Acromegaly
although there are other versions of the story. Some believed he had been poisoned by rivals or envious competitors (Machnow was a rather well known wrestler), but no evidence for this is available. He was the father of four children none of whom reached a height greater than two meters.
Belarus
Belarus , officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, bordered clockwise by Russia to the northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Its capital is Minsk; other major cities include Brest, Grodno , Gomel ,...
). Though exact details concerning his birth and real height are uncertain, Machnow eventually grew to a stature of 7-ft-10 inches (2.39m) and a weight of 365 lbs.
As a young man in his twenties he toured Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
to exhibit his great height. After having spent time in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
he visited London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1905 where he joined the Hippodrome accompanied by his wife and young child. He then toured the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1906 where he met President Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
. Throughout his tour his promoters exaggerated his height, and he is usually accredited with a stature of 9-feet-3 inches (2.82m) and billed as "The Russian Giant." On the obelisk it is still possible to read: «Фёдор Андреевич Махнов. Родился 6 июня 1878 года. Умер 28 августа 1912 года. Самый высокий человек в мире. Ростом был 3 аршина 9 вершков» ("Feodor Machnow. Born June 6, 1878. Died August 28, 1912. Tallest man in the world. He was 254 centimetres tall"). This index was taken from a 16-year old Feodor contract. But after 16 years of Feodor Machnow continued to grow, and added 31 cm, reaching 282 cm. Giant's wife, Efrosinja wanted to correct the incorrect figure on the monument, but was prevented from doing so because of the beginning of the First World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and then the Revolution. Unfortunately Machnow's wife could not verify this version. This exaggeration may have been because he wore a huge Cossack
Cossack
Cossacks are a group of predominantly East Slavic people who originally were members of democratic, semi-military communities in what is today Ukraine and Southern Russia inhabiting sparsely populated areas and islands in the lower Dnieper and Don basins and who played an important role in the...
fur hat, and tall boots which added a foot to his height. Although, if this was accurate, he would have been taller than Robert Wadlow
Robert Wadlow
Robert Pershing Wadlow was the tallest person in history for whom there is irrefutable evidence. Wadlow is sometimes known as the Alton Giant or Giant of Illinois because he was born and grew up in Alton, Illinois.Wadlow reached in height and weighed at his death at age 22...
.
Machnow died in the year 1912 due to pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
and likely complications of Acromegaly
Acromegaly
Acromegaly is a syndrome that results when the anterior pituitary gland produces excess growth hormone after epiphyseal plate closure at puberty...
although there are other versions of the story. Some believed he had been poisoned by rivals or envious competitors (Machnow was a rather well known wrestler), but no evidence for this is available. He was the father of four children none of whom reached a height greater than two meters.
See also
- Robert WadlowRobert WadlowRobert Pershing Wadlow was the tallest person in history for whom there is irrefutable evidence. Wadlow is sometimes known as the Alton Giant or Giant of Illinois because he was born and grew up in Alton, Illinois.Wadlow reached in height and weighed at his death at age 22...
- Ivan Loushkin
- Uvays Akhtaev
- Alexander SizonenkoAlexander SizonenkoAlexander Alekseyevich Sizonenko is a former Soviet basketball player. Possibly the tallest person to ever play professional basketball, he was measured by Guinness World Records at and named the world's tallest man in 1991. Sizonenko is said to have grown since this measurement was taken,...
- Victor Zobolotny
- Igor Ladan
- Angus MacAskillAngus MacAskillAngus Mòr MacAskill, frequently referred to as Giant MacAskill or Black Angus , was a Scottish-Canadian giant, and is the world's largest "true" giant...
- Leonid StadnykLeonid StadnykLeonid Stepanovich Stadnyk , is a Ukrainian man renowned for his stature. He was formerly listed as the world's tallest living man according to Guinness World Records...
- Nikolay Valuev
Links
- Fedor the Giant - many pictures of Feodor Machnow
- List of tallest people
- Another version about Feodor Machnow`s height