John Rogan
Encyclopedia
John William "Bud" Rogan (c.1868–1905) is one of 13 people in medical history to reach a height of 8 feet (2.4 m) or more.
He was born in Sumner County
, Tennessee
, United States
, between 1865 and 1868. Rogan began to grow very rapidly at the age of 13, leading to ankylosis
. Having only been able to walk on crutches, by 1882 he could not stand or walk. By 1899, he had grown to a height of 8 ft 6 in (2.6 m) and often appeared in newspapers, referred to as the "Negro giant". He got around by way of a goat cart he had made himself and was always the center of attention, often noted for his extremely deep voice and playful attitude. Although he could not work, he made a living by selling portraits and postcards of himself at the train station.
His hands measured 12 inches (30.5 cm) in length and his foot measured 16 inches (40.6 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 (2.69 m) tall, but weighed only 175 pounds (79 kg), making him the tallest African American
, and the second tallest person, ever recorded.
Rogan died in 1905 from complications of his disease. His body was buried in the family yard under solid concrete to prevent scientists from exhuming and examining his body.
He was born in Sumner County
Sumner County, Tennessee
Sumner County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of 2000, the population was 130,449. Its county seat is Gallatin, but its largest town is Hendersonville...
, Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, between 1865 and 1868. Rogan began to grow very rapidly at the age of 13, leading to ankylosis
Ankylosis
Ankylosis or anchylosis is a stiffness of a joint due to abnormal adhesion and rigidity of the bones of the joint, which may be the result of injury or disease. The rigidity may be complete or partial and may be due to inflammation of the tendinous or muscular structures outside the joint or of...
. Having only been able to walk on crutches, by 1882 he could not stand or walk. By 1899, he had grown to a height of 8 ft 6 in (2.6 m) and often appeared in newspapers, referred to as the "Negro giant". He got around by way of a goat cart he had made himself and was always the center of attention, often noted for his extremely deep voice and playful attitude. Although he could not work, he made a living by selling portraits and postcards of himself at the train station.
His hands measured 12 inches (30.5 cm) in length and his foot measured 16 inches (40.6 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 (2.69 m) tall, but weighed only 175 pounds (79 kg), making him the tallest African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
, and the second tallest person, ever recorded.
Rogan died in 1905 from complications of his disease. His body was buried in the family yard under solid concrete to prevent scientists from exhuming and examining his body.