Anton de Franckenpoint or “Long Anton,” is the first verified person in history to be 8 feet tall. There are only around 30 documented people in history who are 8 feet or more in height. He was born Anton Frank in the Holy Roman Empire and lived until 1596 in what is now Germany. His skeleton can be seen in Marburg, Germany, at the Museum Anatomicum today, as well as his painting at the Marburg Anatomical Institute.
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Who Was Anton de Franckenpoint?
Originally from Geldern, Anton de Franckenpoint worked as the Protestant Duke Henry Julius of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel’s (1564–1613) personal guard. In that sense, he was also one of the earliest bouncers. His actual birthday is a mystery, although anthropological research places it anywhere between 1544 and 1561.
As tall as a statue, Anton de Franckenpoint was dissected in the anatomy department at the University of Helmstedt in 1596, according to university documents.
Along with the skeleton, the entry hall of the Marburg Anatomical Institute has a life-size oil painting of “Long Anton” as a Landsknecht (a type of Germanic mercenary) from Braunschweig. This artwork is another acquisition of the University of Helmstedt (1576–1810).
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What Made Anton de Franckenpoint Extremely Tall?
A growth hormone-secreting pituitary adenoma (a benign tumor) was responsible for his extreme stature, just like other similarly tall people in history such as Zeng Jinlian, Don Koehler, Robert Wadlow, or John Rogan. If it occurs before around the age of 15, this tumor causes gigantism or extreme stature in humans, but this also shortens their lifespan significantly.
His adenoma-caused sella turcica enlargement is clearly noticeable on his cranium because the pituitary gland is located here.
Anton de Franckenpoint went on a world tour where he exposed himself to the public. His almost 5 feet 7 inches (170 cm) tall crutch, as well as degenerative changes in joints and the spine, are a testament to the fact that the health implications of his gigantism caught up with him in his later years.
People with gigantism are susceptible to bone injuries because of falls. Anton had two femoral neck fractures during his life.
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His Skeleton and Painting in the Museum
Neither of his limbs remained, and a fake skull is used in place of the original while his skeleton is on display in the museum today. The Germanisches Nationalmuseum in Nuremberg had an exhibition featuring Anton de Franckenpoint’s skeleton in June 2017.
When investigating the history of a set of textbooks published in the 19th century, researcher Nina Ulrich dug deep into both the skeleton and its analytically reconstructable life history. Thomas Kuster, a curator at a museum in Innsbruck, also uncovered a painting and a copper engraving by modern artists that depict Anton’s figure.
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