Feodor Machnow
Fiodar Andrejevič Makhnov (Belarusian: Фёдар Андрэевіч Махноў) or Feodor Andreevich Makhnov (Russian: Фёдор Андре́евич Махно́в) was born in 1876 at the village of Kasciuki near Viciebsk, then part of the Russian Empire (now in Belarus). Exact details such as his height and weight are unconfirmed.
Feodor Makhnov | |
|---|---|
 Feodor Andreevich Makhnov | |
| Born | 6 June 1876 Kasciuki, Vitebsk Governorate |
| Died | 28 August 1913 (aged 37) Kasciuki, Vitebsk Governorate |
| Nationality | Russian/Belarusian |
| Other names | Fyodor Makhnov, Федор Махнов (Russian) |
| Known for | Tall man/person "The Russian Giant" |
| Height | 9 ft 3 in (282 cm) (Unverified) around 7 ft 10in |
Biography
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 as well as actor and fellow giant George Auger.[nb 1] Throughout his tour his promoters exaggerated his height, and he was usually accredited with a considerably inflated stature as high as 9 feet 3 inches (282 cm) 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 6 June 1878. Died 28 August 1912. Tallest man in the world. His height was 3 arshins 9 vershoks [254 centimetres] tall"). Machnow'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, now cited as the world's tallest man. However, photographic evidence suggest that he was not any taller than 7 feet 10+1⁄2 inches (240.0 cm).
Machnow died in 1913 due to pneumonia, and likely complications of acromegaly. He was the father of four children, none of whom reached a height greater than two meters.
See also
References
- Auger's height is also disputed, with claims ranging anywhere from 226 to 257 cm (7 ft 5 in to 8 ft 5 in).
