John William "Bud" Rogan was the tallest man of African descent in recorded history (8โ9 ft)
Rogan died in 1905 at the age of 35 and his body was buried under a layer of concrete to prevent curious scientists from stealing it.
โJohn William Rogan was born in 1868ย inย Sumner County, Tennessee. Also known as โBudโ rogan, he is one of 16 individuals in medical history to reach a height of eight feet or more.
John William Rogan began to grow very rapidly at the age of 13 leading to Ankylosis, and eventually he could not stand or walk. He moved around in a cart which he had made himself from his bed, pulled by goats.
Like many other tall people on the list, John William Rogan didnโt have a proper source of income and struggled to live a happy life. Due to ankylosis, he was not able to work. Fortunately, he was able to sell self-made portraits and postcards at local railway station.
Rogan had a number of his drawings published. He refused all offers to join the carnival and side shows.
Shortly before he developed ankylosis, Rogan was 8ย feet 6ย inches tall and weighed 300ย lbs.ย His exact height was not measured until his death, and he was measured while in a sitting position. At that time, he measured 8 feet 8 inches tall, but weighed only 175 pounds, making him the tallest African American and the second tallest man ever recorded. John William Rogan died in 1905 from complications of his disease.
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