John Rogan is one of the remains of the slavery era in History. Standing tall as a giant due to a condition he had no control over, he still stands tall when stories of the time are told. The former slave is still popular due to his difference among people of his time.
While he made the record as one of the tallest people that ever lived, he is considered the tallest man of African descent.
His life during and after his death remains a mystery that many people keep asking about. Who was he, where is his final resting place and what are the other fascinating facts should we know about him? Do not drop your device as this article will tell all the untold details about him.
Who Is John Rogan?
John Rogan was born in Hendersonville Tennessee between 1867 and 1871. He was the son of slaves, his father was William Rogan. Being the fourth child among twelve siblings, he also endured the hard life of being a slave. John was also referred to as Bud Rogan.
His family was owned by Hugh Rogan, one of the original white settlers in Sumner County and founder of the Rogana farms.
Considered the tallest man of African descent, some sources from old newspapers claim he may have inherited his height from his maternal grandfather who was also a giant.
See Also: Ayuba Suleiman Diallo- 12 Facts About The Fulani Kidnapped Prince Turned Slave
10 Interesting Facts About John Rogan
1. John Rogan’s Height Was Caused By Gigantism
It is possible that other members of his family were not so blessed or cursed with this rare gigantic body depending on how you see it.
John Rogan started growing into a giant at the age of 13. This rare condition is referred to as gigantism. If he lived to his middle ages, it meant, he definitely became one of the tallest men that ever lived.
2. He Suffered From Ankylosis
The progressing condition that made him a giant right from a young age also became his bane. His over tallness complicated his posture. He suffered ankylosis as a result of his gigantism.
John Rogan lost the use of his legs as he could not stand or walk again. Who is still wishing to grow like the great man? Here is another part you may reconsider.
3. John Rogan Refused to Join The Sideshow
At the time he lived, he was a rare sight that could attract a crowd just to look at him in amazement. While he could have made a name for himself by joining the sideshow frenzy of the time, he chose to remain invisible to public gawks.
He refused to be made a part of sideshows like the display of human oddities. In fact, he was never part of the sideshow circus.
4. John Rogan Was a Trader And Painter
Since John could not perform any physical labor due to ankylosis, he engaged in trading activities.
He sold postcards and portraits at the train station. His drawings were published according to the Kansas City Journal.
5. John Rogan Height And Measurement
The world over, the average height for males ranges between 5ft 7.5 inches and 5ft 8inches. Those crossing over to 6 ft are considered tall males. Even the Vikings who are considered to be giants had an average male height of 5, 1 ft while the Dutch who are currently the tallest in the world have an average male height of 5 ft 7.9inches.
John Rogan was a man-mountain standing on a height of 8ft 6inches in 1899. He has tied height with Franz Winkelmeier once considered to be the world’s tallest man at 8ft 6inches.
He weighed 175pounds and he used a cart pulled by goats for movement due to his height. His hands measured 11 inches and his feet were 13 inches.
6. Robert Wadlow Beat His Record As World’s Tallest Man
John held the record for the world’s tallest man for many years till his height was surpassed by that of Robert Wadlow.
At the age of 21, Robert outgrew John Rogan to hold the record for the tallest man.
7. His Master Once Thought His Wife Remarried
Hugh Rogan, the owner of John Rogan left his wife and son, Bernard in Irelanbd to come seek fortune in America.
While in America he heard the disturbing news that his wife might have remarried thinking he had died. However, he found her alive when he returned to Ireland.
He brought his family back to America and had his second son, Frank born 20 years younger than his elder brother.
8. The Rogans Fought In The Civil War
The facts about John are incomplete without mentioning his family’s role in the civil war. Precisely seven Rogans went to war but only one returned home.
9. The Death Of John Rogan
At the time of his death, he weighed only 105 pounds meaning he had shed most his weight. He was referred to as the living skeleton towards the end of his life.
He died on 12 September, 1905.
10. Where Is His Final resting Place?
John rogans final resting place has become a topic for debate. Some sources point to the farmland of his owners, the Rogana lands while some claim he was buried in an unmarked grave by his family.
The second opinion states that his body was placed in a cemented vault. John’s family was probably trying to protect his remains from being dug up by the town doctors he associated with. They were William Lackey who first started writing about him and Ernest Hickman, a dentist.
Whatever it is, John is still a legend due to what nature bestowed on him despite the situation of life he grew up in, slavery.
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