| Revision as of 21:47, 7 February 2020 editSidP (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers40,818 edits reverted erroneous number of funeral attendees (using a reference, not an arbitrary number)← Previous edit | Revision as of 20:41, 8 February 2020 edit undo83.38.220.112 (talk)No edit summaryTag: Visual editNext edit → | ||
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| | nationality = American | | nationality = American | ||
| | occupation = Entertainer and Sideshow performer | | occupation = Entertainer and Sideshow performer | ||
| | known_for = The heaviest human in the world | | known_for = The heaviest human to walk, The heaviest human in the world during his lifetime | ||
| | names = Robert Earl Hughes, Big Barry, Earl Hughes | | names = Robert Earl Hughes, Big Barry, Earl Hughes | ||
| }} | }} | ||
| '''Robert Earl Hughes''' (June 4, 1926 – July 10, 1958) was an American man who was, during his lifetime, the heaviest human being recorded in the history of the world.<ref name="Brainy">{{cite web |url= http://www.brainyhistory.com/events/1926/june_4_1926_85832.html|title= Robert Earl Hughes, became heaviest known human... June 4 in History | website= BrainyHistory.com|publisher=|accessdate=11 March 2017}}</ref> | '''Robert Earl Hughes''' (June 4, 1926 – July 10, 1958) was an American man who was, during his lifetime, the heaviest human being recorded in the history of the world and remains the heaviest human in the world able to walk.<ref name="Brainy">{{cite web |url= http://www.brainyhistory.com/events/1926/june_4_1926_85832.html|title= Robert Earl Hughes, became heaviest known human... June 4 in History | website= BrainyHistory.com|publisher=|accessdate=11 March 2017}}</ref> | ||
| ==Early life and family== | ==Early life and family== | ||
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| At age 10, he weighed {{cvt|375|lb}},<ref name= Life /> and by age 13, he weighed {{cvt|546|lb}}.<ref name= Pekin /> That year he was no longer able to go to school due to his size (and his inability to walk the mile each way),<ref name= look /> so he became a voracious reader at his home.<ref name= FH /> He was known for his extraordinary memory and his gentle, genial demeanor.<ref name= hwhig2007>{{cite news| url= https://www.whig.com/article/20070612/ARTICLE/306129970| title= Robert Earl Hughes was a gentle giant| date= June 12, 2007 | first= Deborah| last= Gertz Husar| work= The Herald-Whig| access-date= 2020-02-05}}</ref> By age 18, his weight was over {{cvt|709|lb}}.<ref name= Pekin /> | At age 10, he weighed {{cvt|375|lb}},<ref name= Life /> and by age 13, he weighed {{cvt|546|lb}}.<ref name= Pekin /> That year he was no longer able to go to school due to his size (and his inability to walk the mile each way),<ref name= look /> so he became a voracious reader at his home.<ref name= FH /> He was known for his extraordinary memory and his gentle, genial demeanor.<ref name= hwhig2007>{{cite news| url= https://www.whig.com/article/20070612/ARTICLE/306129970| title= Robert Earl Hughes was a gentle giant| date= June 12, 2007 | first= Deborah| last= Gertz Husar| work= The Herald-Whig| access-date= 2020-02-05}}</ref> By age 18, his weight was over {{cvt|709|lb}}.<ref name= Pekin /> | ||
| As an adult, Hughes was {{cvt|5|ft|9|in}} tall,<ref name= FH /> although it was also reported that he was {{cvt|6|ft}} when he was 20 years old.<ref name= Life /> He weighed |
As an adult, Hughes was {{cvt|5|ft|9|in}} tall,<ref name= FH /> although it was also reported that he was {{cvt|6|ft}} when he was 20 years old.<ref name= Life /> He weighed 1072.5 lbs (486kg) at his heaviest.<ref name= "Brainy"/> | ||
| Hughes was able to do some light work on his family's farm, such as feeding chickens and gathering eggs.<ref name= Pekin /> He used a walking stick was made out of polished oak wood. Once he reached {{cvt|1,000|lb}}, Hughes had to be weighed every six months.{{cn|date= February 2020}} Hughes never lost his mobility and could still walk at |
Hughes was able to do some light work on his family's farm, such as feeding chickens and gathering eggs.<ref name= Pekin /> He used a walking stick was made out of polished oak wood. Once he reached {{cvt|1,000|lb}}, Hughes had to be weighed every six months.{{cn|date= February 2020}} Hughes never lost his mobility and could still walk at 1072.5 lbs (486 kg) but would need to rest regularly. His ] required {{cvt|9|yd}} of material, and his shirts required {{cvt|5|yd}}.<ref name= Life /> | ||
| ==Career== | ==Career== | ||
Revision as of 20:41, 8 February 2020
| Robert Earl Hughes / Big Barry | |
|---|---|
| File:Robert Earl Hughes.jpgRobert Earl Hughes | |
| Born | June 4, 1926 Monticello, Missouri, US |
| Died | July 10, 1958(1958-07-10) (aged 32) |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation(s) | Entertainer and Sideshow performer |
| Known for | The heaviest human to walk, The heaviest human in the world during his lifetime |
Robert Earl Hughes (June 4, 1926 – July 10, 1958) was an American man who was, during his lifetime, the heaviest human being recorded in the history of the world and remains the heaviest human in the world able to walk.
Early life and family
Robert Earl Hughes was born in Monticello, Missouri, the son of Abraham Guy Hughes (1878–1957) and Georgia Alice Weatharby (1906–1947). He was born a large baby at birth, "weighing a hefty but not abnormal" 11 lb 4 oz (5.1 kg) and was a "fairly average-size baby until he contracted whooping cough when he was about five months old." The whooping cough was believed to be involved in his extraordinary condition. The family moved to Fishhook, Pike County, Illinois, when Robert was six months old. He had two younger brothers, Guy B. Hughes (1927–2006) and Donald Hughes (1929–2012).
Condition and lifestyle
Hughes' excessive weight was attributed to a ruptured thyroid gland when he was sick as a baby. However, his pituitary gland has been considered to have played a role in his size as well as his hypothalamus.
At age 10, he weighed 375 lb (170 kg), and by age 13, he weighed 546 lb (248 kg). That year he was no longer able to go to school due to his size (and his inability to walk the mile each way), so he became a voracious reader at his home. He was known for his extraordinary memory and his gentle, genial demeanor. By age 18, his weight was over 709 lb (322 kg).
As an adult, Hughes was 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) tall, although it was also reported that he was 6 ft (1.8 m) when he was 20 years old. He weighed 1072.5 lbs (486kg) at his heaviest.
Hughes was able to do some light work on his family's farm, such as feeding chickens and gathering eggs. He used a walking stick was made out of polished oak wood. Once he reached 1,000 lb (450 kg), Hughes had to be weighed every six months. Hughes never lost his mobility and could still walk at 1072.5 lbs (486 kg) but would need to rest regularly. His overalls required 9 yd (8.2 m) of material, and his shirts required 5 yd (4.6 m).
Career
Some income was made from selling photographs of himself. During his adult life, Hughes made guest appearances at carnivals and fairs. At age 27, he joined a traveling roadshow, often accompanied by some of his family. Plans to appear on The Ed Sullivan Show variety television program were announced but never materialized.
Demise
In 1958, Hughes contracted a case of measles, possibly from his nieces. While traveling with the roadshow, he developed a rash in July in Nappanee, Indiana, his fingernails had turned dark blue, and he finally sought medical attention. He developed uremia. Unable to be treated at the nearest hospital in Bremen, Indiana, doctors came to him at his trailer. However, they were unable to save him.
He was buried in small church cemetery in Benville, Illinois in Brown County near his hometown, Fishhook. About 2,000 people attended the funeral.
See also
Additional reading
- Faig, Kenneth W. (2001). Big Heart: Remembering Robert Earl Hughes, 1926-1958. Issue 8 of Moshassuck monograph series. Moshassuck Press – via Google Books.
References
- ^ "Robert Earl Hughes, became heaviest known human... June 4 in History". BrainyHistory.com. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
- ^ Gertz Husar, Deborah (June 12, 2007). "Robert Earl Hughes was a gentle giant". The Herald-Whig. Retrieved 2020-02-05.
- ^ "710 Pound Youth". Life. 1946-10-07. pp. 81–82, 84. Retrieved 2020-02-05 – via Google Books.
- ^ Moreno, Rich (2010-02-04). "The Biggest Man in Fishhook, IL. Ever". Exploring Illinois. Retrieved 2020-02-05 – via blogspot.com.
- ^ Luciano, Phil. "World's Heaviest Man: The last chapter of Robert Earl Hughes' remarkable life". Washington Times Reporter. Archived from the original on March 4, 2012.
- ^ Luciano, Phil (2008-03-13). "World's Heaviest Man: The world begins to learn about Robert Earl Hughes". Pekin Daily Times. Retrieved 2020-02-05.
- ^ "It's All in How You Look at It". Kentucky New Era. 1966-07-13. Retrieved 2020-02-05 – via Google News.
- "Fishhook, Illinois to Benville, Illinois". How Far Is It? Distance Server. Retrieved 2020-02-05.