Robert Earl Hughes

Robert Earl Hughes
Robert Earl Hughes
Born June 4, 1926
Baylis, Illinois, U.S.
Died July 10, 1958 (aged 32)
Bremen, Indiana, U.S.
Cause of death Uremia
Resting place Benville Cemetery
Nationality American
Occupation Entertainer and Sideshow performer
Known for The heaviest human in the world
Parent(s) Abraham Guy Hughes
Georgia Alice Weatharby
Relatives Guy B. Hughes (younger brother)
Donald Hughes (younger brother)

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.[1]

Robert Earl Hughes was born on June 4, 1926 in Baylis, Illinois, the son of Abraham Guy Hughes (1878–1957) and Georgia Alice Weatharby (1906–1947). He had two younger brothers, Guy B. Hughes (1927–2006), and Donald Hughes (1929–2012). At the age of six, Robert weighed about 92 kilograms (203 lb);[2] at twelve, he weighed 148 kilograms (326 lb). His excessive weight was attributed to a malfunctioning pituitary gland.[3] His chest was measured at 3.15 metres (10.3 ft), and he weighed an estimated 485 kilograms (1,069 lb) at his heaviest.[1]

Hughes's grave at Benville Cemetery

During his adult life, Hughes made guest appearances at carnivals and fairs; plans to appear on the Ed Sullivan television program were announced but never came about.[3] On July 10, 1958, Hughes contracted a case of measles,[2] which soon developed into uremia,[2] resulting in his death in Bremen, Indiana,[4] United States. He was 32 years old. He is buried in Benville Cemetery, Brown County, Illinois.[2]

It is often said he was buried in a piano case. This error stems from a sentence that appeared in successive editions of the Guinness Book of World Records, which read, "He was buried in a coffin the size of a piano case." His headstone notes that he was the world's heaviest man at a confirmed 1,041 pounds (472 kg).[2]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Robert Earl Hughes, became heaviest known human... June 4 in History at BrainyHistory.com". Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Robert Earl Hughes (1926 - 1958) - Find A Grave Memorial". Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  3. 1 2 "World's Heaviest Man: The last chapter of Robert Earl Hughes' remarkable life" - Washington Times Reporter Archived March 4, 2012, at the Wayback Machine.
  4. ↑ Obituary - Bremen Enquirer
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.