Patrick Cotter O'Brien (19 January 1760 – 8 September 1806) was the second of only twenty two people in medical history to stand at a verified height of 8 feet (2.44 m). O'Brien was born in Kinsale, County Cork, Ireland. His real name was Patrick Cotter and he adopted O'Brien as his stage name in the sideshow circus, claiming descent from the legendarily gigantic Brian Boru.[1] He was also known as the Bristol Giant and the Irish Giant. Another giant of this period, Charles Byrne, also claimed to be an O'Brien.[1]
Patrick O'Brien. Credit: Wellcome Library
He made enough money to retire in 1804 and lived in Hotwells, Bristol until his death. It is believed that he died from the effects of the disease gigantism.[2]
No hearse could be found to accommodate his eight-foot-four-inch (254 cm) casket encased in lead, and his remains were borne to the grave by relays of fourteen men. In his will, Cotter left £2,000 to his mother and a request that his body be entombed within twelve feet (370 cm) of solid rock (to prevent exhumation for scientific or medical research).[3]
His grave remained undisturbed for just short of 100 years until March 1906 when workmen accidentally discovered his coffin whilst laying drains. His remains, after being measured and photographed, were reburied.[4]
In 1972 his remains, exhumed again, were examined and it was determined that, whilst alive, he stood approximately 8 feet 0 inches (244 cm) tall. This made him the tallest person ever at that time, a record that would be surpassed by the next 'eight-footer', John Rogan, who died almost a century later. Patrick Cotter's giant boots are on display in the Kinsale Museum.[5]
^ abLeroi, Armand Marie (2005). Mutants: On Genetic Variety and the Human Body. Penguin. pp. 177–178. ISBN0142004820.
^Post, Irish. "Eight facts about Patrick Cotter O'Brien, the eight-foot tall Irishman who died in 1806 | The Irish Post". The Irish Post. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
^Doherty, D.J. Hickey, J.E. (1989). A Dictionary of Irish History 1800-1980 ([Paperback reprint] ed.). Dublin: Gill and Macmillan. p. 98. ISBN0-7171-1567-4.
^DeBarra, Damien (9 February 2006). "Waking The Dead: Standing on the Bones of Irish Giants". blather.net.
^. westcorkpeople.ie. Archived from the original on 30 June 2018. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
External links
at thetallestman.com
January 07, 2023
patrick, cotter, brien, january, 1760, september, 1806, second, only, twenty, people, medical, history, stand, verified, height, feet, brien, born, kinsale, county, cork, ireland, real, name, patrick, cotter, adopted, brien, stage, name, sideshow, circus, clai. Patrick Cotter O Brien 19 January 1760 8 September 1806 was the second of only twenty two people in medical history to stand at a verified height of 8 feet 2 44 m O Brien was born in Kinsale County Cork Ireland His real name was Patrick Cotter and he adopted O Brien as his stage name in the sideshow circus claiming descent from the legendarily gigantic Brian Boru 1 He was also known as the Bristol Giant and the Irish Giant Another giant of this period Charles Byrne also claimed to be an O Brien 1 Patrick O Brien Credit Wellcome Library He made enough money to retire in 1804 and lived in Hotwells Bristol until his death It is believed that he died from the effects of the disease gigantism 2 No hearse could be found to accommodate his eight foot four inch 254 cm casket encased in lead and his remains were borne to the grave by relays of fourteen men In his will Cotter left 2 000 to his mother and a request that his body be entombed within twelve feet 370 cm of solid rock to prevent exhumation for scientific or medical research 3 His grave remained undisturbed for just short of 100 years until March 1906 when workmen accidentally discovered his coffin whilst laying drains His remains after being measured and photographed were reburied 4 In 1972 his remains exhumed again were examined and it was determined that whilst alive he stood approximately 8 feet 0 inches 244 cm tall This made him the tallest person ever at that time a record that would be surpassed by the next eight footer John Rogan who died almost a century later Patrick Cotter s giant boots are on display in the Kinsale Museum 5 An arm of Cotter s is currently preserved in the Medical Museum of the Royal College of Surgeons London citation needed See also EditList of tallest people Charles ByrneReferences Edit a b Leroi Armand Marie 2005 Mutants On Genetic Variety and the Human Body Penguin pp 177 178 ISBN 0142004820 Post Irish Eight facts about Patrick Cotter O Brien the eight foot tall Irishman who died in 1806 The Irish Post The Irish Post Retrieved 30 June 2018 Doherty D J Hickey J E 1989 A Dictionary of Irish History 1800 1980 Paperback reprint ed Dublin Gill and Macmillan p 98 ISBN 0 7171 1567 4 DeBarra Damien 9 February 2006 Waking The Dead Standing on the Bones of Irish Giants blather net West Cork People The Giant of Kinsale reveals his full height at Kinsale Museum westcorkpeople ie Archived from the original on 30 June 2018 Retrieved 30 June 2018 External links Edit 1 Images at thetallestman com Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Patrick Cotter O 27Brien amp oldid 1077796160, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
