John Rogan: The Tallest Black Person in History

John Rogan was the tallest Black person in history at 8 feet 9 inches (2.67 m) and also the second tallest person ever to live in recorded history. Many of the tallest people in history have originated in the United States, such as the tallest person ever, Robert Wadlow. This also includes John William “Bud” Rogan (February 16, 1867 – September 12, 1905). Unlike many extremely tall people before and after him, John Rogan lived a relatively longer life (at least 36 years), like John Middleton the Giant, who lived for 45 years.

John Rogan’s Life

Sumner County, Tennessee is the place of origin for John William Rogan. His obituary gives his birth year as 1867, making him the fourth child of 12, although the Census puts his birth in the years 1865 or 1866.

He stood over eight feet tall, making him one of 20 people in recorded medical history to do so. However, Rogan only weighed 174 lb (79 kg), an ideal weight for a man of 5’11” (1.80 m).

The reason behind John Rogan’s gigantic size was acromegaly (or acromegalic gigantism). Overproduction of growth hormone (GH) is the root cause of acromegaly. GH, which primarily originates in the pituitary gland, controls body growth. Overproduction of this hormone leads to enlargement of the skeleton, cartilage, and other organs and tissues.

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Prior to reaching puberty, John Rogan was a typical-sized child. After that, he began to grow exponentially and experienced ankylosis (from the Greek word for ‘bent’, ‘crooked’). This unfortunate condition fused his knees and hips and rendered him unable to walk or stand for the rest of his life.

An Honorable Man

Rogan stayed in his hometown despite several invitations to carnivals and other forms of entertainment. It was usual at the time to exhibit people with extraordinary features in carnivals, tours, and side shows around the United States, and these events often brought fame and sponsors for the person. But he probably found ventures like these either insulting or too challenging for his condition.

Despite the fact that he could neither stand nor walk and required money in order to cover the substantial costs of his daily life, such as special clothing, shoes, a tremendous appetite, etc., Rogan refused to be placed on display and chose to stay as a hard-working farmer.

However, since walking became more difficult for John Rogan as his illness worsened in 1882, he could no longer work. The man then fashioned a cart drawn by two goats to go around his hometown. This brought a little more fame to the already fun and carefree character of the beloved man, and he often appeared in newspapers.

Self-Employed

John was supposedly 8 feet 6 inches (259 cm) tall in 1899, when he was 31 years old, earning him the nickname “Negro Giant” in the press. It was often said about John that he had quite a low-pitched voice. Wherever he went, he was always the focus of the conversation.

Despite offers of assistance, Rogan often rejected them, viewing all physicians with suspicion. He went into business for himself. For the whole of his adult life, he spent each morning driving his goat cart that he built himself to the Gallatin County station for the Louisville & Nashville Railroad Depot. Once there with his goats, John sold his image on postcards to passing commuters.

His Death

The “Living Skeleton” kept becoming taller until the day he passed away from ankylosis on September 12, 1905, at the age of 38. The sickness that often claimed the lives of giants before they were 25 finally got to him.

It wasn’t until after he passed away that an accurate measurement of his height could be established. Rogan stood at 8 feet 9 inches (2.67 m) and had a slim 174-pound (79 kg) weight.

He was probably even thinner in the days leading up to his death. His hand span was recorded to be 11 inches (28 cm), and his foot length was 13 inches (33 cm).

In order to prevent his remains from being exhumed and studied by inquisitive scientists, John Rogan was buried in a cemetery owned by the family under a thick concrete slab. He is still considered the tallest African-American on record.

John Rogan’s Family

Mary Rogan, John’s paternal grandmother, was included in the household of her son, John’s father, in the Sumner County, Tennessee, censuses of 1870 and 1880. Mary’s birth record indicates that she was born in Tennessee sometime around 1805. Both of Mary’s parents are documented as being native Virginians. Mary and William Rogan (John’s father) were presumably the slaves of Francis Rogan of Sumner County, as were Mary’s parents. According to the 1860 Slave Schedule, Francis Rogan was the owner of 71 slaves.

The following 12 children were living with William and/or ‘True Love’ Rogan in the 1870, 1880, and 1900 censuses for Sumner County. John William Rogan, born between 1865 and 1868; Anthony, born circa 1867; Titus, 1868; Mary, 1871; Charles, 1873; Humphrey B., 1876; Johnnie, 1879; Malissa, 1883; and Louie, 1889.

In 1870, the father William’s farm and personal belongings were worth $340. True Love was living alone in 1910. She had a total of eight children, six of whom were accounted for as being alive. However, between the years 1870 and 1900, her husband William’s household had 12 children. Since Nimrod, Edward, Chaney, and our protagonist John Rogan were all born before 1870, it’s possible that True Love wasn’t their mother.

Everyone from Nimrod to Edward to Chaney was born into slavery. Considering the age gap between the father William and the mother True Love (about 15–20 years), it’s likely that their mother was somebody else.

It’s possible we’ll never know who John Rogan’s mother was since he passed away in 1905 when death certificates were not needed.