John Rogan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John "Bud" Rogan
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| Born | c. 1867 or 1871 |
| Died | September 11, 1905 (aged 36–37) Gallatin, Tennessee, U.S.
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| Other names | Willie, Bud Rogan, The Negro Giant (Alias) |
| Occupation | Salesman, Artist, Sharecropper |
| Known for | Second tallest man in history, tallest African-American ever recorded. |
| Height | 8 ft 9.5 in (268.0 cm) |
| Relatives | William Rogan (Father) |
John William "Bud" Rogan (born around 1867 – died September 11, 1905) was an amazing person who grew to be the second-tallest person ever recorded in history. He was an African-American man from Tennessee, and his incredible height was almost 9 feet tall! Only Robert Wadlow grew taller than him.
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Who Was John "Bud" Rogan?
John Rogan was born in Hendersonville, Tennessee. His father, William Rogan, was a former slave. John was the fourth of twelve children in his family.
Early Life and Growth
When John was about 13 years old, he started growing very quickly. This was because of a condition called gigantism. Gigantism makes a person grow much taller than average.
Sadly, this rapid growth also caused a problem called ankylosis. This meant his joints became very stiff and hard to move. By 1882, when he was around 15, John could no longer stand or walk on his own.
Life with Gigantism
Even though John couldn't do physical work, he found ways to earn a living. He was very talented at drawing. He sold his portraits and postcards at a train station. Some of his drawings were even published in a newspaper in 1897.
Many people wanted John to join circuses or sideshows because of his height. But he always said no. He preferred to live his life his own way.
His Amazing Height
In 1899, John Rogan was measured at 8 feet 6 inches tall. At that time, he was tied with another person, Franz Winkelmeier, as the tallest person ever recorded. He weighed between 175 and 205 pounds.
Because he couldn't walk, John used a special cart pulled by goats to get around. He was always the center of attention. People often noticed his deep voice and his friendly, playful attitude.
John's hands were 11 inches long, and his feet were 13 inches long. Eventually, he reached a height of 8 feet 9.5 inches. This made him the tallest person of African descent and the second tallest person ever recorded. Later, in 1939, Robert Wadlow grew even taller than John Rogan.
It's interesting to know that John's grandfather on his mother's side was also said to be very tall. This might mean that tallness ran in their family.
A Legacy of Tallness
John Rogan passed away on September 12, 1905. He is remembered as one of the tallest people in history.
See also
- List of tallest people
