In the Calgary Herald, on Friday was an article about Henry Alexander Cooper, billed as the tallest man in the world. He was traveling with a circus that came through Calgary, Alberta, Canada, in 1899, it seems that Henry had fallen ill and died on August 16, 1899, in Calgary and was buried here, in the Union Cemetery.
Henry was born June 12, 1853, in Malton, Yorkshire, to a working-class family. As a young man, he worked in the iron mines at nearby Rosedale. Until then, there's nothing to indicate he was above average height.
According to a report published in 1900 in the Northern Echo, Cooper was stricken with a severe fever and confined to bed for 13 weeks. During this time he increased in stature to the enormous and astonishing extent of 18 inches. The Echo gave his height as 8 feet, 8 inches, but the account of his funeral, says he was 7 feet, 6 inches. He weighed 496 pounds, his hands measured 13 inches, and the ring he wore was big enough for two ordinary fingers. His foot was 17 inches long.
Mr. Cooper funeral was arranged and paid for by the International Order of Oddfellows, on Aug. 20, 1899. His grave is unmarked, but is in Section C, Row 8, Grave 20, and is part of the history given by a walking guide, for the Union Cemetery tours.
In the Calgary Herald, on Friday was an article about Henry Alexander Cooper, billed as the tallest man in the world. He was traveling with a circus that came through Calgary, Alberta, Canada, in 1899, it seems that Henry had fallen ill and died on August 16, 1899, in Calgary and was buried here, in the Union Cemetery.
Henry was born June 12, 1853, in Malton, Yorkshire, to a working-class family. As a young man, he worked in the iron mines at nearby Rosedale. Until then, there's nothing to indicate he was above average height.
According to a report published in 1900 in the Northern Echo, Cooper was stricken with a severe fever and confined to bed for 13 weeks. During this time he increased in stature to the enormous and astonishing extent of 18 inches. The Echo gave his height as 8 feet, 8 inches, but the account of his funeral, says he was 7 feet, 6 inches. He weighed 496 pounds, his hands measured 13 inches, and the ring he wore was big enough for two ordinary fingers. His foot was 17 inches long.
Mr. Cooper funeral was arranged and paid for by the International Order of Oddfellows, on Aug. 20, 1899. His grave is unmarked, but is in Section C, Row 8, Grave 20, and is part of the history given by a walking guide, for the Union Cemetery tours.
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