Richard Kelham Whitelamb facts for kids

Richard Kelham Whitelamb was a unique person from England who lived a long time ago. He was sometimes called 'The Cambridgeshire Dwarf'. Records show he was likely born in a town called Wisbech in England, either in 1763 or 1765. His parents were named Susannah and Richard.

Who Was Richard Kelham Whitelamb?

Richard Kelham Whitelamb was the son of a man also named Richard Kelham Whitelamb. His father worked as a 'Drawer' (someone who served drinks) at an inn called the Vine and Rose. Later, his father became the owner of another inn, the Nag's Head Inn, also in Wisbech.

Life as a Public Figure

Richard Kelham Whitelamb became known to the public. A poster from 1787 said that when he was 22 years old, he was 34 inches (about 86 cm) tall and weighed 32 pounds (about 14.5 kg). This poster was advertising a special product meant to make hair stronger.

A famous artist named Samuel Ireland even painted a picture of Richard in 1787. This painting is now part of the Royal Collection. In the portrait, Richard is shown standing next to a sedan chair, which was like a fancy box carried by people to transport important individuals. He is described as being 22 years old in the painting.

It's thought that this portrait might have been made when Richard was being "shown" in London in August 1787. At that time, some sources said he was 24 years old.

A "Wonderful Prodigy"

Richard was described as a "wonderful Prodigy." This meant people thought he was amazing and unusual because of his small size. He would even visit people's homes if they wanted to see him. The cost to see him was flexible for ladies and gentlemen, but tradesmen paid three pence each.

Richard also had a special skill: he made a product called "Infallible Balsam." This was a hair treatment that he claimed could make hair stronger and help it grow. So, people who visited him weren't just seeing a unique person; they could also buy his hair product, especially if they were worried about losing their hair!