Caroline Crachami

Caroline Crachami (b. 1815— June 1824) is sometimes cited as being the smallest person in recorded history, but as she was nine years old or less at the time of her death, it is unlikely that she had finished growing. Said to have been born in Palermo, Italy, she was known as the "Sicilian Fairy" or "Sicilian Dwarf." She was the first person recognised to have primordial dwarfism,[1] and was only about 19 1⁄2 inches (50 cm) tall at the time of her death; it was claimed that at birth she had weighed only one pound (454 grams) and measured about 8 inches (20 cm) tall.[2]

Exhibition and death

Caroline Crachami first came to public notice in April 1824, when she was exhibited in London by a Dr Gilligan. She was a great success, attracting many distinguished visitors, and was presented at Court. Observers noted that she appeared of normal intelligence for a child of her supposed years, had a good command of spoken English, and suffered from a bad cough.[3]

She died in June 1824, apparently of a respiratory ailment, probably tuberculosis.

References

  1. ↑ "Where We Were: A Little Bit of History from www.primordialdwarfism.com". Archived from the original on 2008-05-11. Retrieved 2008-04-30.
  2. ↑ Bondeson, Jan (2004). The Pig-faced Lady of Manchester Square & Other Medical Marvels. Tempus. ISBN 0-7524-2968-X.
  3. ↑ Bondeson, Op. cit.

Sources

  • Wood, Gaby. The Smallest Of All Persons Mentioned In The Records Of Littleness. Profile, 1998, ISBN 978-1-86197-088-6
  • Richmond Review: The Smallest of All Persons
  • Caroline Crachami at Everything2.com
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