Chapter Gesa to Giants in Real Life of G by Brewer's Readers Handbook

(105) Yohak, the giant guardian of the caves of Babylon.—Southey: Thalaba, v.

The tallest giant was in the army of Dandolo, the doge of Venice, said to have been 18 yards (54 feet) high. He wore a casque on his head as high as a turreted city.—History of Venice (published by Murray, 1831), vol. i. p. 152.

Those who wish to pursue this subject further should consult the notes of Duchat, bk. ii. I of his Œuvres de Rabelais (1650–1735).

Giants in Real Life.

(a) Amanat, 7 feet 9 inches. A Greek

(aa) Anak, father of the Anakim. The Hebrew spies said they themselves were mere grasshoppers in comparison to these giants.—Josh. xv. 14; Judg. i. 20; Numb. xiii. 33.

(b) Anak, 7 feet 8 inches at the age of 26. Exhibited in London, 1862–5. Born at Ramonchamp, in the Vosges , 1840. His real name was Joseph Brice.

(c) Andronicus II., 10 feet. Grandson of Alexius Comnenus. Nicetas asserts that he had seen him.

(cc) Bamfield, 7 feet I inch. The Staffordshire giant; last century.

(d) Bamford (Edward), 7 feet 4 inches. Died in 1768, and was buried in St. Dunstan’s Churchyard.

(e) Bates, (Captain), and his wife, of Kentueky. Exhibited in London, 1869 and 1871. Captain Bates was 8 feet, and weighed 478 lbs. (nearly 30 stone). Mrs. Bates was 7 feet II inches, and weighed 413 lbs.; and her stillborn child weighed 15 lbs. (1872).

(f) Bithin, the Belgian giant, died July 30, 1843. He played at one of the minor London theatres, as “The Giant of Palestine.”

(g) Blacker (Henry), 7 feet 4 inches, and most symmetrical. Born at Cuckfield, Sussex, in 1724. Generally called “The British Giant.” Exhibited in London, 1751.

(h) Bradley, 7 feet 9 inches at death, and weighed 27 stone. Born at Market Wheaton, in Yorkshire. Length of his foot was 15 ½ inches, and the girt of his wrist II inches. His right hand is preserved in the museum of the College of Surgeons (1797–1820). His baptism is duly registered in Market Weighton Church.

(i) Brice (Joseph), 7 feet 8 inches. His hand could span 15 ½ inches. (See Anak.)

(j) Busby (John), 7 feet 9 inches; of Darfield. His brother was about the same height.

(k) Byrne (Charles), 7 feet 7 inches. He died at Cockspur Street, aged 22.

(l) Chang-Woo-Goo, 8 feet 6 inches; of Fychow. The Chinese giant. Exhibited in London, 1865–6, and in 1880; died 1893.

(m) Charlemagne, 8 feet nearly. He could squeeze together three horse-shoes at once with his hands.

(n) Cotter (Patrick), 8 feet 7 ½ inches. The Irish giant. A cast of his hand is preserved in the museum of the College of Surgeons (died 1802).

(o) Daniel, Oliver Cromwell’s porter, was a giant.