Martin Van Buren Bates: The Story of the Tallest Man to Ever Live
Martin Van Bates is a man who has continued to be remembered because of his extraordinary height. Martin was famous as the Kentucky River Giant, and he attracted more public attention after he was married to Anna Swan, one of the tallest women to ever live.
Martin met his first wife, and their wedding attracted a huge crowd. Unfortunately, their family was met with several calamities, especially after they lost, their two children at birth. Here is the story of Martin!
Early Life
Martin was born on November 9, 1837, in Letcher County, Kentucky to John Wallis Bates and his wife Sarah. Bates was born as any normal child, but his height jumped abnormally at the age of six or seven.
By the time Martin was 12 years old, he was over 6ft and weighed over 200lb or 90kg. As a result of his huge height and body size, he earned the nickname, the Kentucky Giant. He remained one of the tallest people in the world who lived up to 80 years.
Early Career
Bates was like any other child, and he attended school in his home area. After graduating from high school, he joined the university in Virginia. While at the university, the American Civil War broke out. He joined the 5th Kentucky Infantry Confederate States Army and went on to become a lieutenant and captain.
While at war, he was severely wounded near Cumberland Gap and was captured and imprisoned at Camp Chase in Ohio. Later, he escaped and vanished. Some records also show that he was a schoolteacher by profession before the war broke out.
Adulthood and Relationships
While Martin Van Bates is famous for his height, he attracted fame also for being married to one of the tallest women. While Martin was on a tour in Halifax, Canada, he was visited by Anna Haining Swan, who was 7 feet 11 inches.
Martin and Anna got to know each other, and they began to date soon. In 1871, the couple walked down the aisle, and they became husband and wife. The wedding was highly publicized, and it attracted a huge crowd at the St. Martins in the Fields. Thousands of people attended the wedding because of the couple’s disarming good nature.
Queen Victoria gave Bates an engraved watch and gave Swan a satin gown and a diamond ring. The couple moved to Ohio in 1872, and they settled in Seville. On May 19, 1872, Anna gave birth to a daughter, who weighed 8.2 kg or 18lb. Unfortunately, the little gen died at birth.
Martin and Swan built a home that could accommodate them comfortably and they live on the 130 acres of land, where they designed their house. The furniture was also designed for their height, and they were determined to have a good life on the farm they were going to establish.
Martin and his wife welcomed another baby, a son who weighed 10kg at birth. The boy was born in January 1879 and was perfect in every aspect. Unfortunately, he also died at birth.
Martin’s first wife died on August 5, 1888, and Martin ordered a statue from Europe for her grave, he sold the oversized house and moved to town, where he married Annette a woman of normal height, and settled with her.