Robert Wadlow gained international fame as the tallest man in the world. At age 22 in 1940 reached a remarkable height of 8 feet and 11.1 inches(2.72 m), still a Guinness World Record.
Wadlow was born in Alton, Illinois, on February 22, 1918, to Harold Franklin and Addie May (Johnson) Wadlow, and was the oldest of five children.
He was taller than his father by age 8, and in elementary school, a special desk was made for him. He enrolled in Shurtleff College with the intention of studying law. Wadlow required leg braces when walking and had little feeling in his legs and feet.
His weight reached 439 lb (199 kg) at his death at age 22. In 1938, he began a promotional tour with the International Shoe Company, which provided his shoes free of charge.
A faulty brace irritated his ankle, leading to infection. He was treated with a blood transfusion and surgery, but his condition worsened and he died in his sleep on July 15.
His coffin measured 10 ft 9 in (3.28 m) long by 2 ft 8 in (0.81 m) wide by 2 ft 6 in (0.76 m) deep, weighed over 1,000 lb (450 kg), and was carried by twelve pallbearers and eight assistants. He was buried at Oakwood Cemetery in Alton, Illinois.
Data source(Wikipedia)